HIALEAH, Fla. – One person has been arrested in connection with a deadly hit and run crash that killed one man and sent another to the hospital in critical condition Sunday night.
According to Hialeah Police, Henry Paz was arrested about a mile from the scene of the crash at the intersection of W. 16th Avenue and 49th Street around 9:30 p.m. The 28-year-old is accused of slamming his car into the bus bench where the two victims were sitting, then leaving the scene.
"This was a very violent accident, very graphic, very gruesome," Hialeah Police spokesperson Eddie Rodriguez told Local 10. "One person was struck so hard he was actually thrown over the bushery and in the drive-through of the fast food restaurant Pollo Tropical while everyone was waiting in line to be served."
Rodriguez said that man died immediately. His identity has not been released, but authorities say he was in his 50s.
He added that the other man, who is 24-years-old was rushed to Palm Springs Hospital before being airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center in very critical condition. The crash severed both of his legs, requiring both to be amputated.
Police spent much of the nigh interviewing witnesses who saw the gruesome crash.
"We are trying to gather up as much information as possible so we can have a better description of the vehicle we are looking for," Rodriguez said. "There were also people inside [Pollo Tropical] at the time that witnessed everything that happened through a window. A few people came outside to render aid."
An officer stopped Paz when he noticed his car had damage to it. An officer told Local 10's Tamika Bickham Paz admitted to drinking, so more charges could be added.
It is unclear what caused the accident at this time.
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