Southwest Miami-Dade , FL : One pedestrian struck and killed while crossing the street in Southwest Miami-Dade on Thursday morning , February 12th 2015

Authorities are investigating after a pedestrian was struck and killed while crossing the street in Southwest Miami-Dade Thursday morning.

Miami-Dade Police and Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene along Bird Road and 112th Avenue, near Florida's Turnpike, sometime before 6:30 a.m.

The victim was identified as Miguel Morales, who, according to his colleagues, worked as a day laborer to support his family in Guatemala.

According to FHP, the pedestrian was struck while walking to Home Depot. "They knew him in the area," said FHP Trooper Joe Sanchez. "He's one of the handymen in front of the Home Depot that gathers there and looks for employment. He was attempting to cross from south to north when apparently a vehicle traveling east on 40th Street -- maybe one or two vehicles -- struck the individual."

"At the moment I heard of an accident impact, I ran outside with one of the managers," said Jorge Hernandez, a friend of the victim. "I saw a person. I did see a car leaving the scene."

Hernandez saw his friend moments after he was the victim of a hit-and-run. "It's a tragedy to see a brother like any of you, you know, be hit like that," he said. "We can see by the impact of the accident this guy should have stopped; it could have been considered an accident."

Investigators are still trying to determine if it was one or two cars that hit Morales. "In this case, we believe that the person who may have struck the pedestrian wasn't even at fault," said Sanchez, "so the least you could do is stay at the scene, maybe render aid or call 911, or maybe you could save a life. People continue to flee the scenes. It's a great concern to us."

All eastbound and westbound lanes at Southwest 112th Avenue were closed as authorities gathered information. They were reopened hours later.

If you have any information on this hit-and-run, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.



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