What to Know
- A cyclist spoke out following a hit-and-run that occurred April 3.
- He is calling for the person responsible or for any witnesses to come forward.
- Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Jorge Rouco, the cyclist recovering from a recent hit-and-run on the Rickenbacker Causeway, said he was conscious throughout his excruciating experience.
Speaking to NBC 6, Rouco, 50, was able to describe the moments leading up and after he was struck.
The cyclist with 30 years of experience said he was "ripped off" his bicycle on April 3. When he fell to the ground, a vehicle stopped nearby and attempted to help – calling 911.
Rouco sustained numerous injuries, including broken ribs and a collapsed lung. He hopes the person responsible, or anyone who witnessed what occurred, will come forward.
"It's incredible that somebody can be OK morally with themselves and not do the right thing," Rouco said. "This has changed my life, physically – hopefully not indefinitely – it's affected me; it's affected my immediate family, my wife, my children, my parents, my loved ones; potentially my career."
Rouco is not sure whether he will ever ride again. Cycling was a healthy aspect of his life that he thoroughly enjoyed.
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"Whoever did this should come forward, or whoever saw anything should come forward. Say something," Rouco said. "I'm one of the lucky ones that's here, that's able to tell the story, and there's a lot of us that have not been able to."
"Please do the right thing," Rouco said, appealing to the person responsible.
Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
