Woman arrested in fatal hit-and-run crash of 2 elderly pedestrians in Hialeah
HIALEAH - A 47-year-old woman was arrested on Monday in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed an elderly couple as they crossed the road one block from their home to buy Lotto tickets on Sunday night.
Susej Calcines faces two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident. She is currently in custody at the Miami-Dade County jail.
The victims have been identified as 87-year-old Julio Hernandez and his 84-year-old wife, Manuela Hernandez.
Their daughter, Maria Obregon, told CBS News Miami that her parents came to South Florida from Cuba 44 years ago and had been married for 54 years.
"I feel terrible. I lost my parents, both of them at the same time," said Obregon, who has a sister, a husband, and children. "They were just going to the liquor store to buy Lotto tickets after dinner."
Police said surveillance cameras helped them locate the black Mercedes in northwest Miami-Dade.
"This is heartbreaking. She just destroyed a family, a husband and wife who made a life here in the U.S.," said Hialeah police Lt. Eddie Rodriguez.
Obregon expressed her distress that the driver did not stop.
"People should not do that," she said. "If you hit someone on the road, stop, please, and help. Please don't run away. Sometimes it's not your fault, sometimes it is. But a life is a life."
Obregon added that her parents had gone to buy Lotto tickets at a liquor store.
"They had just finished eating and left without saying anything," she said. "I realized they had left when I saw police at the corner."
"My home is empty now. I was with them all the time. People should not do that. If you hit someone, stop, please. Help. Don't run away. God is the only one who takes life away from us. If you stop, call for help, and try to assist, it might turn out differently."
CBS News Miami also spoke with Jorge Venenche, the brother-in-law of the suspect.
Venenche said Calcines had told police that she suffers from an unspecified condition and did not remember what happened.
"She has mental health problems. It looks like she took some kind of pill. She was very emotional. I feel bad for the victims' family, and I feel bad for both families," Venenche said.
According to the Hialeah police report, Calcines was driving a black 2007 Mercedes GL450, heading southbound on East Eighth Avenue as she approached the intersection of East 48th Street.
The couple was crossing East Eighth Avenue at the intersection when they were struck, one block from their home.
The Mercedes hit both pedestrians and continued southbound on East Eighth Avenue without stopping to provide her name or render aid, according to the police report.
The Hialeah Fire Department pronounced the couple dead at 7:03 p.m.
