KENDALL, Fla. – The family of a South Florida principal who was struck by a car last week in Kendall is asking that people donate blood to the hospital in honor of Javier Perez.
Perez, 43, was seriously injured April 26 at a park in the 2300 block of Southwest 117th Avenue while coaching his 5-year-old son's baseball team.
Miami-Dade police spokeswoman Robin Pinkard said the driver of a GMC Envoy, Marilyn Aguilera, 51, lost control of her vehicle and struck a chain link fence and Perez. She stayed at the scene and has not been cited pending the investigation, although a police report indicates that officers believed she was under the influence of alcohol.
A blood-alcohol test is pending.
Perez, who is the principal of South Dade Senior High School was taken by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to Kendall Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
"I would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the wonderful trauma team and ICU nurses at Kendall Regional Medical Center," Perez's wife, Maytee Perez, said on a GoFundMe page set up to help pay for the principal's medical expenses. "They have taken such wonderful care of him and we are confident that he is receiving the best medical care possible."
Maytee Perez said her family has received an overwhelming amount of inquiries as to how people can help her family.
"Therefore, we ask that you donate blood in Javi's honor to help replenish the hospital's blood supply," Maytee Perez said.
Many people turned out for the blood drive Thursday -- some of whom do not know Javier Perez, who has since been upgraded to serious condition.
"He lost a lot of blood and the hospital helped him a lot, so I want to give back for the future for anybody else who needs blood ," Marcelo Moncero said.
"It's a tragedy what happened to him -- so young and everything," Ana Valdes added.
Below are the dates and times for the blood drive:
Thursday: Kendall Regional Medical Center from noon – 5 p.m.
Friday: South Dade Senior High School from noon – 5:30 p.m.
Ronald Reagan Senior High School from 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday: Kendall Regional Medical Center from noon – 6:30 p.m.
Click here to donate to Javier Perez's GoFundMe page.