MIAMI – A driver in a stolen car and a bicyclist were killed in a gruesome crash Monday night in Miami.
Miami police said a stolen black Infiniti was speeding southbound on Northwest 12th Avenue when it struck a bicyclist at Northwest 54th Street.
The bicyclist, identified as Javier Mu?oz, 44, was dragged for a block before the car, driven by Lionel Guy Dorila, 21, crashed into a tree and burst into flames. Both Mu?oz and Dorila were pronounced dead at the scene.
"The driver was screaming out and (we) still couldn't get him out of the car," a witness said.
Police said several people tried to help the driver, but the flames were too intense.
"We tried to break the windows (and) tried to put the fire out with fire extinguishers," Richard Smith said. "Police officers came and tried to help, but they told us to get back because they feared for our lives that it would blow up."
Firefighters and police said the incident was one of the most violent crashes they have ever seen. Detectives were back at the scene Tuesday morning to determine what caused the driver to crash.
"Just the visualization of everything and now seeing it in the morning to re-cap what we was trying to do to help last night is just crazy," a witness said.
Police said Dorila narrowly missed other people who were walking and riding bikes in the area at the time of the crash. It also missed a home near the tree that the car slammed into.
"I just praise God and I thank him, but right now I'm grieving for the family of the lost, and I ask that everyone pray for the family of the lost," the homeowner said.
Police said the Infiniti was stolen out of Sunny Isles Beach.
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