Grieving Father & Brother Of Hit & Run Victim Speak Out
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POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) – A grieving brother and father are speaking out days after their family member, a mother of four, was struck and killed by a hit-and run driver in Pompano Beach.
Fredericka Howard was killed at 2:42 AM on Saturday in Pompano Beach.
The victim's family, on a day which would have been Howard's 31st birthday, is looking for answers, hoping the driver responsible will come forward. They told CBS4's Peter D'Oench they are horrified that the driver would take off without helping her.
Fred Bridgewater, Howard's father, told D'Oench his daughter was a good, loving person.
"She loved kids very, very much. She would…" Bridgewater, overwhelmed by the loss of his daughter, broke down before he could finish.
According to investigators, Howard was driving a red 2007 Chevrolet southbound on N.W. 16 Avenue attempting to cross the westbound lanes of W. Atlantic Blvd. When Howard's car entered into the far left westbound lane, it was struck by a white Ford F150 that was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Click here to watch Peter D'Oench's report.
The driver of the pickup fled the scene, police said.
"Left a person—an innocent person—to die and not think anything about it," Howard's father said.
Howard was taken to the Broward Health North where she was pronounced dead.
Howard was a mother of four children; a 1, 4, 7 and 9-year-old.
Frederick Bridgewater lost his sister early Saturday morning.
"Who would do that? Why would you do that? You, if it was something accidental, just come forth. Don't just leave her sitting there," said Frederick Bridgewater.
Howard's brother and father hope someone can lead detectives to the hit-and-run driver.
"If anyone knows any information about the accident, come forward and let the police know what's going on that we can put this all behind us," Howard's father said. When D'Oench asked what it would mean to the him if the person comes forward, he answered, "it would mean a lot to me to clear everything off my mind right now."
Howard's brother added, "I would just like to say to the public if you know anything about this, please come forward to the officers and let us know so we can put a closure to this right now. She was one of my younger sisters and she meant a lot to us. I kind of lived far away from her but we did communicate and we were very close."
Family members are caring for Howard's four children. She lived in an nearby apartment complex in Pompano Beach.
There's a reward of up to $3,000 in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Broward Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or www.browardcrimestoppers.org.
