Arrest Made In Deadly Hialeah Hit & Run
HIALEAH (CBSMiami) - Hialeah Police say they have the hit and run driver responsible for killing a grandmother in the middle of a busy street.
Manuel Fernandez has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries for the deadly accident that killed Maria Morales, 78, as she got off a bus on Lejeune Road at East 11th Place about 6:30 Tuesday night. Police say those charges may be upgraded to vehicular homicide when the investigation is complete.
Two men, who did not want to be identified, said they heard the description of the car on the news and called Crime Stoppers. They told police the car was at a Hollywood repair shop.
Workers at the shop said the car had been brought in Wednesday morning and had no idea the damage was the result of a deadly accident.
"He came in just like any customer," said the repair shop owner.
Hialeah Police Lt. Carl Zogby said Fernandez seemed remorseful after police traced the car's registration to his home. Fernandez reportedly said that he did not see Morales on the dark street and panicked when he realized what had happened.
The tipsters hope their information brings closure to Morales' family.
"Unfortunately I can't say I'm glad because this should never have happened in the first place," said the tipster."That could've been my mom, my grandma, who knows. You have to be responsible."
