FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office are searching for a driver who they said struck a woman while she was riding an electric bike near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport last month.
The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. May 31 in BSO’s Airport District.
Deputies received a call about a person lying in the roadway in the 4500 block of South Federal Highway.
BSO deputies and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene where they found the victim, who they identified as Margarita Lopez, and transported her to a nearby hospital for treatment, authorities said.
Lopez told Local 10 News’ Christian De La Rosa she only remembers parts of her near death experience after being hit by an SUV while riding her electric scooter.
“I was thrown around a like a rag doll,” she said. “I was bleeding out of my head.”
She remembers what doctors told her once at the hospital.
“They’re like, ‘You’re lucky to be alive and not to be paralyzed,’” she said.
Surveillance video shows a silver SUV traveling on South Federal Highway just moments before the driver struck Lopez, who was riding an electric bike southbound inside the tunnel near the airport, according to BSO.
Shortly after the crash occurred, the driver was seen stopping the vehicle, stepping out and helping Lopez to her feet. The driver then positioned the victim’s bike against the wall and fled the scene, detectives said.
“(He asked) if I was OK and then he told me I just got hit by a car,” said Lopez.
The SUV he was driving is silver and possibly a Honda CRV, police said.
“I am thankful he took me out of road because I could’ve gotten hit by another car,” said Lopez. “He could’ve at least called 911. There was a woman that jumped out of another car.”
Lopez said it was the woman who called 911.
Her body is covered in road rash and her head had to be stapled back together.
“I fractured my C2 and like spinal injuries,” she said.
The 40-year-old who makes a living working on yachts now cannot work.
“My job is very physical,” she said.
A GoFundMe page was created to help Lopez with medical expenses, and it can be found by clicking here.
Anyone with information about the driver or vehicle involved in the hit-and-run crash is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.