Body Found In Road Identified As Hit & Run Victim
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PEMBROKE PINES(CBS4)---Grieving relatives are pleading for the public's help after police say a hit-and-run driver killed a 58-year-old man who was riding his bicycle early Friday.
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"He loved to ride his bicycle," said Charley Veargis, the brother of the victim, David Lee Veargis. "He rode his bike like you would ride your car."
Pembroke Pines Police say Veargis was riding his bicycle northbound in a southbound lane on University Drive across from North Perry Airport when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver who did not render aid.
Police say the vehicle that left the scene was a 2006-2009 Ford Fusion and will have right front end damage and will be missing the right side passenger mirror. It's not known what color that vehicle is but its headlights are most likely damaged as well.
"There is a bicycle on this scene that had damage to it and there was blunt force trauma to the victim's body," said Pembroke Police Sgt. And spokesman Carlos Corretjer.
It was 4:11 a.m. when a passerby called authorities after seeing Veargis lying on the ground in the southbound lanes at 700 University Drive. Police said he died on the scene from blunt force trauma.
"It's hard. We were real close," said Octavius Veargis. He told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "My father was a good guy, a real good guy. The whole community loved him."
Charley Veargis said, "My brother works hard. He was a hard working man, a handyman who loved to paint.
Octavius Veargis said, "I feel sad about it because of the way he was doing it and leaving the scene. You have got to put yourself in someone else's shoes. What if it was me who was hit your son and daughter. You'd be angry at me. My family is angry because of how you went about doing this. We want whoever did this to come forward and tell us why you left."
Charley Veargis said, "We would ask by the grace of God that you turn yourself in. We are just going to leave it in God's hands right now. This is hard to accept but you have to accept some things. We would like this person to come forward and show he has a heart for us to forgive him. We'd like to see him."
Police said, so far, no witnesses have come forward. They are also looking for any useful surveillance tape that can help them in the investigation.
Sgt. Corretjer said, "Anyone who was involved with this should come forward and give his side of the story as should anybody who was with him."
He also said, "Anyone who saw anything suspicious such as a vehicle with damaged lights or anyone suspicious leaving the scene should call. We need information."
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Pembroke Pines Police Department at (954) 431-2200 or email to Tips@ppines.com or call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477).
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