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Two Killed In Turnpike Hit & Run Accident

HOMESTEAD (CBSMiami) – The search is on for the driver who struck and killed two people standing next to vehicle parked on the shoulder of the Florida Turnpike early Sunday morning.

Julio Ascon, 24, was heading south when his Chevy Impala developed a flat tire on the rear driver's side. He pulled over onto the right emergency shoulder near mile marker 3 and then got out to fix the flat. His passenger, 54-year old Reynaldo Mina from Leisure City, then got out to help Ardon.

While the two men were struggled with the tire, 32-year old Vatiere Jean Jacques pulled over to give them a hand.

At one point Mina got into the Impala to apply the parking brake. Just as he did so, the FHP said a Honda veered off the road onto the shoulder and hit both Ascon and Jacques. The driver stopped for moment and then sped off. Both Ascon and Jacques died where they lay.

"He was a very nice person, he loved music, loved singing, he would always be there for us, he wasn't supposed to die," said Ascon's cousin Marilyn Nova.

The FHP said they're looking for Honda which is light-colored, possibly white, with damage to its right (passenger) front and side. Also the passenger side mirror is missing and it has a Florida tag number "532 TBB".

Anyone who has information on the vehicle or its driver is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.

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