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Victim Of Baseball Bat Attack In Pinecrest Said He's Fortunate To Be Alive

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HIALEAH (CBSMiami) - A 55-year-old Hialeah grandfather who was savagely attacked and struck five times with a baseball bat after getting into an accident said he is battered and bruised but he has no broken bones.

Roger Flores also told CBS4's Peter D'Oench he feels fortunate to be alive.

"He really tried to kill me," said Flores. "I remember the last words to these guyswas don't kill me. I was scared. I was thinking why are all these bad things happening and what would make these men do this. I smelled one of them and there was the smell of cigars and liquor."

CLICK HERE To Watch Peter D'Oench's Report 

"I give thanks to God I have no broken bones," said Flores. He told D'Oench, "I am in a lot of pain. They hit me 5 times with the baseball bat and smashed out windows. Here if you look at my stomach, I have a lot of pain and red marks."

As he showed us where he was struck, he said, "I am very happy to be alive. God saved me one more time."

Flores said he was driving to work at Turkey Point when a silver sedan hit his grey pick-up truck on South Dixie Highway at S.W. 112th St. in Pinecrest.

That's when he says the two men got out of their vehicle. It was just after 5 a.m. on Thursday.

Flores said 19-year-old Brian Boyd told him to drive away and when he did not, Boyd smashed out his rear window and started choking and punching him.

Flores told Miami-Dade Police that 20-year-old Rovantai Payne grabbed a wooden baseball bat and used it to bash his truck and pound him in the chest and belly.

According to the arrest report, there was $2,000 worth of damage to Flores's truck. The report said Flores was about to lose consciousness from the beating.

That's when he noticed police arriving at the scene.

Both defendants were going to appear at bond court hearings but they were reset for Saturday because of medical issues.

Payne is charged with burglary to a vehicle with aggravated battery, criminal mischief and resisting arrest without violence.

Boyd is charged with burglary to a vehicle with battery, criminal mischief, marijuana possession, threatening a public servant and battery on a law enforcement officer.

According to the arrest report, Boyd kicked out the rear window of a patrol car, causing more than $1,000 in damages.

Police say Boyd became so irate during questioning that he flipped over a tape and threw chairs into a wall.

Both men are being held without bond.

Flores said, "I have to say I forgive them. I forgive them. I am a father and I have sons."

Flores said because he is a forgiving person, he has no plans to sue the two defendants.

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