18 Year-Old Teen Killed In Hit-And-Run Accident. Driver Is Still At Large.
An 18-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in northwest Miami-Dade over the weekend, leaving his mother devastated.
NBC Channel 6 in Miami reports that on Sunday, February 9th, Derek Betancourt had been riding in the 19600 block of Northwest 47th Avenue at approximately 8:00 P.M. when a motorist struck him.
According to a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Police Department, the 18-year-old was left for dead in the street while the motorist fled the scene of the crash. Emergency crews attempted life-saving measures to save Betancourt, but the teen succumbed to the injuries he suffered in the crash and died at the scene.
Derek’s mother, Yanelis Betancourt, discussed her family’s devastating loss with NBC reporter, Amanda Placencia, on Tuesday. “He was my child. He was only 18 years old. Full of life,” “He wasn’t a dog to be thrown that way and be left behind.”
Miami-Dade Police are seeking the public’s help in locating the suspect driver who was involved in the fatal crash. The suspect vehicle is being described as a 2015–2018 four-door, black, Mercedes Benz. Police say that the car will have sustained front end damage which includes a missing left front grill and a missing hood emblem. Authorities say that additional damage from the impact with the bicyclist could also have a broken windshield.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Miami-Dade authorities or call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477.