Months after a hit-and-run incident almost left a South Florida woman dead, she’s speaking out as newly released surveillance video shows the shocking crash.
Speaking to 7News on Wednesday, 29-year-old Cristian Contreras said she spent more than two weeks in the hospital recovering from her injuries back in May and the search continues for the driver who hit her.
“I thank God every day for giving me a second chance at life. It’s the most important thing. I can be now with my daughters and live life,” she said in Spanish.
Contreras said she was stopped at a red light on a scooter near Southwest Eighth Avenue and Seventh Street in Miami. When the light turned green, she proceeded straight. That’s when an SUV crashed into her and then fled the scene.
“He took the red light. At the time of the accident, I lost my consciousness,” she said.
Video shows the moment the dark-colored SUV, which was driving at a high rate of speed, slams into Contreras.
Witness Oscar Vega told 7News he was almost hit by the same driver.
“The motorcycle went first, and [the car] almost hit me, but he didn’t hit me, but he went straight, the other car, past the red light, and hit the motorcycle and crashed [into] him immediately,” he said.
Contreras showed 7News the scars from her multiple surgeries and says she’s still recovering from the medical process and trauma left behind.
“I felt a lot of pain. There were moments at the hospital that I thought I would not make it. The moments from the hospital were so hard. I don’t remember anything from the accident. I’m just lucky to be alive,” the victim said in Spanish.
Since the May incident, nobody has been arrested. Detectives say they are looking for the dark-colored SUV, possibly a Mazda.
But the victim says she’s looking for justice.
“He has to pay for what he did because yeah, it happened to me, but now it can happen to many others,” she said.
A police investigation into the hit-and-run remains ongoing.
What exactly led to the crash also remains under investigation.
If you have any information on this crime, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
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Source: wsvn
