A high schooler has died after being struck by a van while riding his bike to school in Miami Gardens Tuesday morning, officials said.
The incident occurred around 6:25 a.m. near a CVS close to the intersection of Northwest 2nd Avenue and Northwest 199th Street.
Police said the student, who attends Miami Norland Senior High School, was riding near the CVS exit when he was struck.
"The juvenile was crossing the exitway of the CVS," Miami Gardens Police spokesperson Diana Delgado Gourgue said.
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Surveillance video showed the van stop after hitting the child, and the driver get out and walk toward where the child was hit. The footage also shows police responding to the scene.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said they received a call of a car that hit a pedestrian and said air rescue transported one pediatric trauma alert to a nearby trauma center.
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Police have confirmed that it was juvenile boy who was injured, and later confirmed that he died at the hospital. His age and name weren't released.
The driver of the white plumbing van who hit him remained on scene and was cooperating with the investigation, police said.
"All drivers, when you’re leaving out and it’s dark, please be vigilant, make sure your lights are working and be vigilant of pedestrians crossing the street," Gourgue said.
People who live nearby say safety is always a concern in this area.
"It's a fast road, people drive 40, 50 miles an hour, it only takes 25 miles an hour to hit a kid,” Glen said. "Don't let your kids ride bikes on this road."
They say something needs to change, and it starts with drivers paying more attention to cyclists on the road.
"Slow the speed down, 20 miles an hour if it takes that to save a life,” Glen said.
"That's real sad, that's real sad,” Joe Peters said. "I feel real bad, anytime anyone gets hit by a car."
