HIALEAH, Fla. – Family and co-workers gathered at Hialeah Hospital on Thursday morning to hold a vigil for Leonardo Gil Fraga, who was killed in a hit-and-run crash leaving his shift at the hospital Tuesday night.
The 34-year-old Cuban immigrant was on his motorcycle just after 9 p.m. in the area of East 21st Street and 8th Avenue when a vehicle struck him and kept driving. Hialeah police say they are looking for a dark-colored SUV or van.
Gil started working at Hialeah Hospital more than 10 years ago and moved his way up to become a patient transporter and then an endoscopy technician.
“The moment we learned of our loss, the hospital went completely silent,” said Shirley Adkins, the hospital’s chief operating officer.
Beyond being beloved at the hospital, Gil had nearly 120,000 followers on TikTok. Those who knew and loved him are cherishing the videos he was famous for — dancing, smiling and having a good time.
“Everybody knows him here. Everybody loves him here,” Gil’s niece Delia Acosta said. “He felt amazing here. He felt like the king of the hospital. He loved being here.”
Hialeah police say the SUV or van involved in the crash “momentarily stopped but ultimately fled the scene westbound on East 21st Street. The vehicle should have right side damage.”
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has information about the vehicle or its owner is asked to call Hialeah police at 305-687-2525. You may also contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 and remain anonymous.
“Multiple people were present when that accident occurred, so there’s got to be a lot of witnesses out there,” said Hialeah police Lt. Eddie Rodriguez. “The most minimal piece of information to you have might actually just break the case.”
The family hopes the driver comes forward so they have closure in what happened that tragic night.
“Maybe if [the driver] would’ve called 911 right away his life would’ve been saved,” Acosta said. “When this happens, you think about everything what could have been.”
Gil leaves behind an 8-year-old son.
A GoFundMe page has been created to raise money for his funeral expenses.