Motorcyclist Involved In Hit And Crash Dies
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A motorcyclist was involved in a deadly hit and run crash on South Dixie Highway early Thursday morning.
It happened just before 7 a.m. at the intersection of SW 17th Avenue.
Miami Fire Rescue Captain Ignatius Carroll said as paramedics were on their way, they received reports that the motorcyclist was on the ground and not breathing and good Samaritans were performing CPR.
"The first unit arrived and took over life-saving efforts. The motorcyclist, an adult male, was unresponsive and not breathing and we continued the life-saving efforts all the way to the Ryder Trauma Center where he was listed in extremely critical condition," said Carroll.
The motorcyclist, identified only as a 39-year-old father on his way home from work, died a short time later.
Mary Faison, who witnessed the crash on her way to work, said the motorcyclist was cut off and struck by the driver who sped off.
"I'm very upset. I am very upset. You don't even hit a dog and keep going. You make sure that dog is okay," she said.
Faison said she was so troubled by the man's death that she posted about it on Facebook, "I witnessed an erratic driver pull out in front of a biker," she wrote.
"He hit this man and had no remorse. No remorse for that guy and that's the part that is so disturbing. You just don't do that," she said.
Faison after the crash another woman called 911 and she went to the down motorcyclist to see if she could help.
"I just can't stop thinking about him. I stood over and I leaned over him and checked just to make sure he had a pulse and was still breathing," she said.
The driver who struck him hit another vehicle and crashed at Coral Way and SW 12th Avenue, the impact flipping his car. When police arrived, he was spotted trying to remove his tag.
"The fact that he left without rendering aid, the fact that he didn't call 911 is what detectives are looking along with alcohol possibly as a factor," said Miami police Officer Kenia Fallet.
"He's a biker. I'm a biker. I know bikers are safe riders but when you speak with people they think we are not. But so often the people in cars don't respect us. And this morning that motorcyclist was doing what he was supposed to do," said Faison.
"Put yourself in that position of what happened to that biker and you are one of their loved ones. If you make a mistake at least stop and check on that individual," she added. "At least have compassion and stop and check on that individual. If you run away from the scene no one cares about you because you left a lifeless man on the street. This man died in front of me and I can't shake that."
The driver who hit the motorcyclist could face a range of charges including leaving the scene of an accident involving a fatality.
