MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A man was killed in a wrong-way crash early Monday on Southwest Eighth Street in west Miami-Dade County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred about 5 a.m. on Southwest Eighth Street at Southwest 157th Avenue, east of Krome Avenue.
According to the FHP, a Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling east in the westbound lanes when it collided head-on with a Hyundai Elantra.
Rescuers cut off the roof to the Hyundai to get to the driver, but it was too late. The driver of the Hyundai, identified as Felix Alberto Restrepo, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck, Pedro Eliezer Rodriguez, 35, suffered critical injuries and was taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center.
According to an FHP report, both drivers were wearing their seatbelts.
"It doesn't make a very good day for anyone that has to see something like this. I feel sorry for their family," one man in the area said.
A view from Sky 10 showed the pickup truck on its side and a body covered by a yellow tarp next to the severely mangled car.
Troopers are investigating whether Rodriguez was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash.
All westbound lanes of Southwest Eighth Street were closed for more than six hours during the crash investigation.
Some drivers question whether the road could be safer.
"I hope that they'll do better work here on this highway, because it is a rather dangerous highway," Eddy Tahbaz said. "If you had guardrails in the middle, this tragic accident wouldn't have happened."
Lt. Alex Camacho said Rodriguez remained hospitalized Tuesday and will face charges.