Arrest Made In Deadly Hialeah Hit & Run
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Hialeah Police made an arrest Monday in connection to a hit and run accident Sunday evening that left one person dead and another having his legs amputated.
Henry Paz, 28, has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving a fatality and leaving the scene of an accident involving an injury.
The accident happened around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of West 16th Avenue and 49th Street. Police say Paz lost control and plowed into two men at a bus stop.
One of the men, only described as being in his 50s, was thrown into a drive-thru of a Pollo Tropical where he died.
The second man, 24-year old Jonathan Manuel Cordero was hit in the lower body had left leg above the knee was amputated, according to police. He was taken Palm Springs Hospital and then by air rescue to the Ryder Trauma Center. On Tuesday he will undergo surgery to see if doctors can save his right leg.
Cordero's sister, Natalie, told CBS4's Marybel Rodriguez that her brother had just gotten from work at Home Depot and was waiting for the bus for a ride home.
"He's an excellent guy. He's playful. He's funny. He is such a hard worker," Natalie said. "He has two jobs. Works like 50 to 80 hours a week. So it was really devastating to know he was just sitting on a bus stop and this happened to him."
She said the family found out about the accident when they watched the news. When there was no answer when they tried calling his cell phone, they went to the hospital.
"I couldn't believe it," Natalie said. "It hurts my heart. I can't understand how people could have such a low value for another person's life."
Police said they found the car they believe was involved in the accident less than a mile away. According to Hialeah Police, Paz told them he had left a Chili's Restaurant on 49th Street when he made a left turn on W. 16th Avenue, his tire blew, he lost control hit the sidewalk, but kept going and a mile later he called a two truck to pick up his car.
"My mom is heartbroken," Natalie said. "She wants a lot of support if his friends can come together and wish and pray for him. Wish for the best. I know he will live, but I am just very worried about his condition right now."
Police have not released the name of the man who died.
