UM Student Dies, Hit & Run Driver Still On Loose
CORAL GABLES (CBS4) - A University of Miami student who was critically injured in a hit and run accident more than a week ago has died as a result of his injuries, according to Coral Gables police.
Police spokeswoman officer Kelly Denham said Jared Paul Jones, 21, of Maryland, passed away just after 2:00 a.m. Tuesday. Jones had been in a coma with massive head and other injuries ever since he was struck by a car while walking along Red Road.
It was 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, November 13th. Jones was crossing the intersection of Red and Blue Roads when he was struck by a car whose driver just kept going. Jones was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Jones' parents immediately flew to Miami to be with their son and made an emotional plea for anyone who knows anything about the driver to please come forward.
"Please, please, help us. I want to know what happened to my son," said Betsy Jones. "To the driver, I say, please, please, we just want some answers."
Police said they are looking for a silver or gray car, possibly a four-door Oldsmobile. People who saw the accident were only able to provide a partial vehicle tag number - X64. Police believe the driver may have been an elderly male, based on witness statements, and not realized he had even hit anything.
"If this person thinks that they hit Paul Jones, we want them to come talk to us and let's figure out what happened in this crash," said Denham.
"We are still sticking with a description of the driver who hit Paul Jones as an elderly white male," said Denham. "That's what one of our witnesses has been saying."
Anyone with information is asked to call Coral Gables Police or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.