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Family Of Hit & Run Victim Seeks Help From Community

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- The family of a hit and run victim in Fort Lauderale is asking for the community's help.

Police say after  Craig Camlin, 53, was hit by a car on December 16, the person who allegedly hit him tried to dispose of his body in a wooded area.

Craig Camlin gave a thumbs up from his hospital bed at Broward Health North. That may not seem like a big deal, but for Craig that arm movement is great.

He's paralyzed from the waist down and has very little movement in his upper body, but each day, he's getting a little better.

"This is the second day off the ventilator since December 16," explained his sister Jayne Camiln.  "This is huge, huge for us!  Our goal is to keep him off the ventilator."

Jayne does a lot of the talking for him, simply because he can't talk,  he can only mouth words.

According to his family, Camlin needs care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and he did not have insurance.

Camlin said he hopes to improve, get better and get back to where he was. He also wants to go back to school.

Fort Lauderdale Police arrested 27-year-old Axel Esteban Inostroza on December 16th for allegedly hitting Camlin with his car, driving away and trying to dispose of the body in a wooded area. Investigators said Inostroza  told them he was drinking before the wreck.

 Axel Esteban Inostroza
Mugshot for Axel Esteban Inostroza, 27. (Source: BSO)

When asked what he thought about a person who would do something like that to him Camlin mouthed out, "Animal."

FLPD said the accident happened on the 5200 block of NE 18th Avenue around 6:30 a.m. Investigators said the Inostroza's 2003 Ford Mustang hit Camlin sending him onto the windshield of the vehicle, rolling over the roof and landing on the back window.

A neighbor's friend heard an odd noise at the time of the accident.

"She just heard like a thump, but not an impact," said neighbor Tom Karrmenn. "She heard screeching and was waiting for an impact like hitting a car or something and never heard it."

Fort Lauderdale Police said the driver was "fully aware" of the crash and did not stop. Police said Inostroza drove two miles with Camlin on his back window until he reached his home in Pompano Beach.

Police said once home, Inostroza picked up Camlin and tried to throw his body away in a wooded area. A landscape crew found Camlin's body and called 911.

"We have an individual that is fighting for his life and we have someone who tried to essentially hide him as he was fighting for his life," said Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Deanna Greenlaw.

Judge John Hurley detailed Camlin's injuries during a court hearing back in December.

"He had a laceration in the back of his head. His ear was almost completely severed and he had spinal injuries which may result in permanent paralysis," Judge Hurley said.

Fort Lauderdale Police said Inostroza gave authorities a full confession.

While Craig's family is devastated by all this, they're amazed that Craig is alive and improving.

"They wanted to talk hospice a few weeks ago," said Jayne. "Craig is a fighter who wants to live, I asked him last week, right Craig, you want to live and he's gonna fight to live."

The medical bills are piling up.  If you'd like to help  the group,"Help Hope Live"  is taking donations for medical expenses.  Much of the family lives out-of-state.It's expensive for them to stay in South Florida while holding a bedside vigil.

If you have a place you can donate for them, contact Neighbors4Neighbors.

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