Man struck, killed while running from machete-wielding attacker in Miami

Police say victim got into fight with Valero employee before running into street

MIAMI – A truck driver is dead after he was struck by a car while running away from a machete-wielding employee at a Miami gas station, police said.

The fatal crash happened near a Valero gas station on the corner of Northwest 36th Street and Northwest 32nd Avenue.

Miami police spokeswoman Officer Yelitza Cedano said the tractor-trailer driver, identified as Yonny Mendez, 38, got into an argument with the clerk, who went into his car and pulled out a machete.

 

Mendez, who was a convicted sex offender, ran away from the man and into traffic on Northwest 36th Street, where he was struck by a flatbed and a Kia. 

Cedano said the man had been weaving in and out of traffic and appeared to be confused.

"We're trying to investigate if the victim that is currently deceased was struck by the machete ... or if he just ran out into traffic and got hit by a car," Cedano said. 

Authorities said the driver of the Mitsubishi Fuso flatbed fled the scene. The driver of the Kia remained at the scene. 

Cedano said Mendez was already on the ground when he was struck, so he may have been injured during the attack.

Northwest 36th Street was closed between Northwest 31st Avenue and Northwest 32nd Avenue during the investigation.