Miami-Dade police investigate hit-and-run of man in wheelchair

MIAMI – A man in a wheelchair had to be transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital Tuesday afternoon after he was struck by an 18-wheeler that kept going, police said. 

It happened shortly before 2 p.m. on Tuesday in the area of NW 103 Street & 7 Avenue.

CBS4’s Joe Gorchow spoke with the wife of the injured man on the phone on Tuesday evening.   

Marta Rojas told Gorchow from the hospital that her husband, Oswaldo, was unresponsive and required hours-long surgery.

Surveillance video obtained by CBS4 shows the moments before it happened. Images show the victim from a distance on the corner of an intersection in his wheelchair.

The store manager who provided us with the video tells us it was a yellow 18-wheeler minutes later that hit the man.

The victim was left defenseless on the street.

CBS4 aerials show Miami-Dade police and Fire Rescue responding to the scene. Crime scene tape blocked off the intersection as detectives investigated.

Officials confirm an 18-wheeler hit a pedestrian and left the scene, but did not provide more details.

“I feel sad for him. He’s a very nice guy. No problems with him. He’s very nice.” 

Scott Hidnert is a local lawyer with an office right by the intersection. He sees the man out in his wheelchair quite a bit. He says he’s warned him about the dangers of being in the intersection.

“We tell him to be careful. But sometimes, the light goes red, and he starts moving around in the wheelchair, and people go flying through the red light and almost hit him. And it’s not occasionally. It’s almost every day someone almost hits him.”

Hidnert came out of his office to see police activity and the victim’s wheelchair on the ground.  He tells us he’s saddened but not surprised by what happened hours earlier.

“I feel bad for him.  We all feel bad for him.  But we saw it coming.”

The victim was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital. 

Authorities do not have any updates on the vehicle or the driver involved in the incideent.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477 or (305) 471-TIPS.