North Bay Village

‘Devastating': North Bay Village Community Mourns Mom, Daughters Killed in Crash

Family members said Cynthia Orsatelliz and her two daughters, Maria, 12, and Sophia, 15, were killed in the crash on the 79th Street Causeway on June 27

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Dozens gathered on Harbor Island in North Bay Village Tuesday night to honor the mother and daughters who were killed in a hit-and-run crash last week.

Family members said Cynthia Orsatelliz and her two daughters, Maria, 12, and Sophia, 15, were killed in the crash on the 79th Street Causeway on June 27.

Community members, teachers, city leaders and more gathered to speak about the family and the impact they had on this community.

Orsatelliz’s husband and the father of the girls spoke a few words during the night.

“My loss is very, very big, and my heart is broken,” Sam Saidi said. “I must say that they really loved each other and everyone in this community. They were very, very happy.”

NBC 6's Victor Jorges has the emotional words from family and friends of those lost as the suspect is still on the run.

Educators from the charter school where both girls attended said they were stand-out students, skilled in both creative writing and singing.

Cynthia’s mother said she wants justice.

“I don’t want to see mother, grandparents suffer what we suffer," Anna Orsatelliz said.

Cynthia’s brother Omar said they’re in disbelief.

“It’s devastating. We’re still trying to cope," Omar Orsatelliz said.

Police are still searching for the man who they say caused the crash, 24-year-old Julius Bernstein.

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