Miami-Dade Police Asking For Help In Finding Hit & Run Driver That Seriously Injured Man, Killed Dog

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A South Florida man was seriously injured, his dog killed after they were hit by a car earlier this month.

Now police are hoping the public can help them find the driver responsible. And two of his aunts are speaking out as well, hoping the driver will be caught.

According to the Miami-Dade Police Department, on March 9th, Willie Moore III was crossing NW 20th Avenue near 95th Street with his two dogs when they were struck.

Surveillance video from the area shows the driver of a light colored sedan, which police believe is a Nissan Altima, making a U-turn after hitting Moore III, stopping briefly, and then driving off.

Moore, 39, was taken to the Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. One of the dogs died.

Moore has already had several surgeries at Jackson Memorial Hospital and may be there for months.

"Right now Willie is still in critical condition and he's about to go into surgery today. This will be his seventh or eighth surgery. He's been in surgery like every other day since he's been in the hospital. We don't know what the outcome is going to be right now," said Moore's niece Sharhonte Walker.

Walker told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "I feel like whoever did this you knew you hit him. You made a U-turn, stopped and took off. So you knew what you had done and you left a human being on the ground to die. So whoever did this needs to come forward of it anyone else knows who did this you can send an anonymous message to police. We need some results with this. Whoever did this can not get away with this. They have an idea what sort of car this was. So you need to turn yourself in before they come get you."

"My uncle was walking his two dogs and one was killed," she said. "My uncle, he is like 125 to 130 pounds and I think whoever hit him was going at a high rate of speed. My uncle has a broken pelvis. His back is busted open. His leg is broken. His hip is broken and they just put a metal rod in his leg and hip and pelvis. You just don't leave someone like that. It doesn't work like that."

Kaytrina Coqmard, who is also Moore's niece, said "Who hits a person and makes a U-turn and goes back and you know you hit a person and you took off like that leaving him like a dog in the street. We hope someone will come forward. My uncle is disabled and does not work because he has scoliosis. He already had a rod in his back. He is a very good person. He is a family man. He loves his family."

Anyone who can help should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).

Moore's family has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for his medical bills. Family members say he has some insurance but it may not cover all his expenses.