MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities continued their search Monday for a person of interest and are also looking for a second individual in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a farm worker nearly two weeks ago in southwest Miami-Dade.
The crash happened just before 6 a.m. on Nov.11 near the intersection of Southwest 194th Avenue and 208th Street, close to Costa Farms Color Division, where the victim, 46-year-old Alexis Muñoz, was employed, police said.
According to investigators, Muñoz was riding a scooter when he was struck by a southbound 2022 silver Ford F-250 that was towing an orange Kubota front loader and a black trailer that were reported stolen. After the collision, authorities said the driver exited the F-250 and fled the scene in a red Ford F-150 without rendering aid or reporting the crash.
Miami-Dade police have named Zeniel Francisco Cabrera Talavera as a person of interest in their investigation and are asking the public for help in locating him. However, detectives stated there is currently no probable cause to make an arrest.
Authorities also confirmed that they are also searching for a second individual involved in the incident.
On Monday, Muñoz’s wife joined detectives in making a public plea for help solving the case.
“The initial crash was purely accidental, what he did after that was 100% (intentional),” Miami-Dade police Detective John Dalton said. “He knew exactly what he was doing.
“He removed the equipment lifted the trailer and drug the victim’s lifeless body from under the trailer, reloaded it and fled the scene and left him for dead right there on the side of the road. He had no intentions of helping him whatsoever.”
The red truck, pictured in a flyer released by Miami-Dade police, is believed to have served as the getaway vehicle. Investigators are now seeking Cabrera Talavera and the driver of the red Ford F-150.
“I’m 100% sure that numerous people are going to know this truck because of the heavy machinery he was using and probably the jobs,” Miami-Dade police Detective Michael Quinones said. “They dug pools, they did driveways, so they community is going to know this person.”
Anyone with information on Talavera’s whereabouts or details about the red Ford F-150 is encouraged to contact Miami-Dade Police at 305-471-2425 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Tips can also be submitted online at CrimeStoppers305.com. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous, and information leading to an arrest could result in a reward of up to $5,000.
Related media:
Miami-Dade Police and Crime Stoppers are seeking help from the community regarding a hit-and-run fatality on November 11, 2024, near S.W. 208th Street and S.W. 194th Avenue.
— Crime Stoppers Miami & FL Keys (@CrimeStopper305) November 20, 2024
We need information on this red Ford F-150 and the whereabouts of Zeniel Francisco Cabrera Talavera, who… pic.twitter.com/tXYjjxzKil