Mother Of Cyclist Injured In Hit & Run Asks For Public's Help

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The family of a man who was severely injured after he was hit while riding his bicycle has asked for the public's help in finding the driver responsible.

Julian Briceno, 25, is depressed, confused and at home recovering from several injuries after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bicycle over the Haulover Bridge.

As he reached the midway point on the bridge, just before midnight on Tuesday, April 12th, his family said a vehicle drifted into the bike lane and sideswiped him.

Briceno was thrown from the bike and suffered multiple injuries. He's currently in a wheelchair.

Lilian Merchan, Julian's mother, is speaking out with the hopes the driver will come forward.

She says as an avid cyclist who bikes more than 300 miles a week, this accident has changed her son's life forever.

"He rode his bike everywhere, over all the bridges, even all the way to South Beach," said Miami-Dade Police Det. Michael Quinones. "This has changed his life. He no longer wants to ride his bike."

His family suspects other drivers saw the accident or at least the vehicle that hit him.

"We have witnesses that witnessed the actual impact, however, were not able to describe the vehicle to us. There are cameras in the area. We're still attempting to collect all the information and it's still an ongoing investigation," said Det. Quinones.

They urge anyone with information to contact the Miami-Dade Police Department.