MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The days started early for Miguel Morales Ixmata, so it was dark.
The day laborer was on his way to the parking lot of Concord Shopping Plaza near Home Depot, 11305 SW 40th St., in Miami-Dade County's Tamiami neighborhood. That was where he usually got jobs with contractors.
Morales, of indigenous Mayan descent, came to the United States several years ago to work and send money back to his native Guatemala. He was using the Intermex wire service, receipts show. A friend -- who said he was with him when tragedy struck Thursday -- identified him as the victim of a hit-and-run.
"I just can't even fathom," Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Joe Sanchez said. "Some people don't even have a conscience."
Morales Ixmata's friend Jorge Hernandez said he was crossing Bird Road at 112th Avenue when a car hit him. He survived that hit. But seconds later, his friend said, the driver of a second car killed him.
"It happened so quickly," Hernandez said adding that he cried after his friend died. "I hope they can apprehend the person who did this."
The Miami-Dade Police Department and FHP were investigating the early morning hit-and-runs. The two cars involved left a lot of debris that will be important in the case, police said. As of 1:30 p.m., authorities had not confirmed the identity of the victim, nor had they released a description of the car.
"Drivers need to take responsibility," Sanchez said. "They need to have a conscious. If you're involved in an accident, stay at the scene for crying out loud."
The Bird Road shut down caused traffic delays for several hours.
The Consulate General of Guatemala in Miami was notified of Morales Ixamata's death. He was one of many "chapines," Guatemalans from the high plains, who still speak their native dialects. They have been coming to South Florida as early as 1993, a social worker familiar with the undocumented community said.
Local 10 News producer Alexandra Fruin contributed to this story.
Follow Local 10 News reporter Michael Seiden @SeidenLocal10
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