No Charges Against Dump Truck Driver Involved In Fatal Accident
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The driver of a dump truck which reportedly ran over and a killed a man Saturday evening has turned himself into police.
Shortly after the accident, Miami police posted a surveillance picture of the truck in a posting on Twitter which read "update #body at 2810 NW 12 Ave victim was run over by truck shown below. No charges are expected but we need driver."
According to investigators, the truck was heading south on 12th Avenue and pulled into a gas station.
The truck driver ran over 54-year-old Wilfredo Santana as he slept with his head on the curb at the Miami gas station. Police said the driver never saw Santana there and thought he had run over a curb.
Sunday afternoon in a Twitter post, police confirmed that the driver turned himself in.
"#dumptruck #driver came into station late last night after media airs story & photo of truck GREAT JOB! No charges being filed #caseclosed"
The news brought little comfort to Santana's family. Family members told CBS4's Maggie Newland the driver should face consequences -- accident or not.
At Santana's Miami apartment building where neighbors say they often saw him sitting or sleeping on the front steps, news that the driver had been found and will not be charged brought mixed reactions.
"When you take somebody's life you gotta pay for what you do, even if it was an ax and he didn't realize he hit him yeah you gotta pay for what you do," said Ronald Santamaria.
"He's sleeping at the gas station you're not supposed to be over there," added Ivan Aguila, adding, "a mistake is not a homicide it's an accident."
