Hit & Run Driver Sought After Deadly Turnpike Crash
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) - The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a car that fled the scene of a deadly crash on the turnpike late Friday night.
FHP spokesman Mark Wysocky said three vehicles were traveling northbound on the turnpike near Southwest 200 Street when one of the vehicles, thought to be a light colored Chrysler PT Cruiser, struck a Nissan Pathfinder while attempting to change lanes. The impact caused the Pathfinder, driven by Bryan Echevarria, 29, to spin out of control and end up facing southbound.
A tow truck, also traveling northbound, struck the Pathfinder head on. A passenger in the Pathfinder, Elizabeth Sanchez, 37, was pronounced dead at Kendall Regional Hospital. Echevarria was also transported to the hospital and is in serious condition. The driver of the tow truck, Ernesto Diaz, 20, was not injured.
Echevarria's girlfriend's daughter told CBS4's Tiffani Helberg that everyone is in shock.
I feel so bad it has me kind of speechless in a way cause I'm taken aback by this I can't believe that this happened," said Karolyn Pena. "This is not fair. "How are you gonna kill someone and just run away how coward can you be? We need to find out who he is or who she is. This can't happen they didn't deserve that."
Pena said Sanchez was a family friend and the mother of two teenagers, age 15 and 16.
"All I thought about was her kids," said Pena. "I didn't know what to say about her kids. I feel so bad for her daughter. He daughter is so she has such a beautiful heart and she needs a mom so bad. Her moms gone and I don't know what to do."
The driver believed to have caused the crash fled the scene. The Chrysler PT Cruiser, or car with similar body style, would have driver's side front damage
Anyone with information about the accident or driver is urged to call FHP or Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
