Family wants justice for bicyclist fatally struck by SUV in Pembroke Pines

Relatives say Jonadin Saint-Louis, 26, worked 2 jobs to support family

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – The family of a South Florida man who was struck and killed by an SUV early Sunday as he was riding his bicycle in Pembroke Pines said he had a passion for music and held two jobs to support his family.

Relatives said Jonadin Saint-Louis, 26, was on his way to one of those jobs at 3:20 a.m. Sunday when he was struck by an SUV in the 1200 block of South University Drive.

"Our friend that we lost, our brother, our son, our grandson, our nephew -- he gone. Ain't no speaking for him. It’s messed up. We hurting," Saint-Louis's god-brother, Jay, said.  

Saint Louis's family is now wondering how something like this could have happened.

"It sound like y’all wasn't paying attention. You in an SUV. You can't see someone in the bike lane?" Jay said. 

The driver has been identified by police as Alexandra Olivier, 19.

Police said she and her passenger, Paula Santiago, 20, said they were heading north past Pembroke Road and never saw Saint-Louis on the road.

They said they only noticed something was wrong when their airbags deployed, authorities said.

Police said the women jumped out of the moving SUV because they thought the vehicle was about to catch fire.

"The driver told the passenger 'Get out, get out, get out,' and they jumped out of the car, and the car continued northbound with nobody in it," Pembroke Pines police Sgt. John Baker said. 

That move created another crash, as the vehicle rolled for at least 12 blocks before slamming into a utility pole just north of Pines Boulevard, authorities said. 

The young women were taken to the hospital for minor injuries. 

Saint-Louis's family said the victim was hard-working and was always there for his family. They are now planning a funeral and wondering if their loved one will ever get any justice.

"It's sad that it had to be like that," Jay said. "We like, what's going to happen now? What's going to happen to the people that hit him?" 

Police said it's too early on in the investigation to tell whether any charges will be filed.


About the Author:

Sanela Sabovic joined Local 10 News in September 2012 as an assignment editor and associate producer. In August 2015, she became a full-time reporter and fill-in traffic reporter. Sanela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film from DePaul University.