Police Search For Suspect In Hit & Run That Left UM Student In Coma
SOUTH MIAMI (CBS4) – South Miami police are still searching for the man wanted in connection with a hit and run crash that left a University of Miami student hospitalized and in a coma and now the girl's father is talking about the tragedy.
"She's opening her eyes you know, she's twitching her eyebrows, she's moving. You know these are all positive signs so we're continuing to hold hope that she'll continue to improve," said Perry Gresh.
Gresh spoke to CBS4's Tiffani Helberg Saturday afternoon while he sat by his daughter Eliza's hospital bed. He said he hopes for two things; her quick recovery and the capture of the man who hospitalized her.
"I would like him caught. I would like him to pay for his crimes and then find himself on a one way trip back to wherever he came from," said Gresh.
South Miami police are still trying to track down 24-year-old Luis Moya. Police say he slammed a Mercedes Benz into 19-year-old Eliza Gresh, as she was crossing the street at U.S.1 and Red Road on Friday, April 27th.
Investigators say he left the University of Miami freshman in the road and drove off.
"They're animals you know a person who drives off like that at a high rate of speed and tries to escape the situation I don't know I have a tough time comprehending that," said Eliza's father.
Police have made one arrest in connection with the case.
Police said they found the Mercedes Benz when Zoila Moya, Luis Moya's mother, brought the car into Pro Collision Center Body Shop in Hialeah to be repaired on Thursday. She told the shop and her insurance company that she had an accident on Sunday, April 29th.
The owner of the shop got suspicious. When he saw the Mercedes on TV, he called police and told them he had a car matching a description of the hit and run vehicle.
"I understand a mother wants to, you know, they may want to lie for their children of course to protect their children but you know her son did something really, really awful," said Perry Gresh.
Investigators said they were able to talk to Luis Moya on the phone and told him if he didn't turn himself in then they would arrest his mother. He reportedly told them to arrest his mom and they did.
She's been charged with filing false and fraudulent insurance claims.
"He puts his mom in a position to lie and of course now she's in trouble because of that and you know we're hoping that everybody else who is watching the news who hears about this story is gonna keep an eye out for this guy," said Gresh.
CBS4 News dug up Luis Moya's traffic history. In just five years: 42 traffic citations, including reckless and careless driving. Police say the Feds have warned Moya that he could be deported to the Dominican Republic if he's arrested again.
If you know where Luis Moya is, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
