Man jailed in west Miami-Dade hit-and-run that killed 18-year-old on soccer scholarship

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade police arrested the man they say was responsible for killing an 18-year-old bicyclist in a crash and fleeing the scene in mid-July.

Police said Yoandrys Alfredo Garcia, 40, of west Miami-Dade, was behind the wheel of a Jeep Wrangler just after 1:15 a.m. on July 15 when he hit Kevin Chaparro from behind as he rode his bike in the 3200 block of Southwest 127th Avenue in the unincorporated Tamiami area.

Chaparro had just moved to South Florida from Colombia to attend Millennia Atlantic University on a soccer scholarship.

Police said an investigation “revealed the identity” of Garcia, who contacted a Miami-Dade Police Department detective through his attorney.

18-year-old Kevin Chaparro was killed in a hit-and-run crash. (WPLG)

An arrest report states that on Wednesday, Garcia went to MDPD headquarters, spoke with police and “provided a complete confession” in his attorney’s presence.

Officers arrested Garcia on charges of leaving the scene of a crash causing death and attempted evidence tampering.

As of Thursday, the Cuban national was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

He told a judge that he’s been living in this country for the past seven years.

Garcia faces a total bond of $20,000 and will have a nighttime curfew if he bonds out, while also not being permitted to drive.

Chaparro’s family are now collecting money so that they can travel to South Florida from Colombia and collect his body.

For those who would like to help Chaparro’s family financially, their information can be found below:

Hit-and-run victim family information (WPLG)

About the Authors
Chris Gothner headshot

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.

Bridgette Matter headshot

Bridgette Matter joined the Local 10 News team as a reporter in July 2021. Before moving to South Florida, she began her career in South Bend, Indiana and spent six years in Jacksonville as a reporter and weekend anchor.

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