HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A Homestead man is facing multiple charges after police said he seriously injured a pedestrian in a hit-and-run and led officers on a brief foot chase Sunday night.
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The incident began around 10:05 p.m. when Homestead police received a 911 call just after 11 p.m. reporting a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on Northwest Ninth Street near North Krome Avenue.
Witnesses described the suspect’s vehicle, driven by 19-year-old Francisco Moralez Jr., as a newer-model black Chevrolet SUV fleeing westbound from the scene, according to Homestead police.
When police arrived, officers said they found the victim being treated by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue before being transported to Homestead Hospital with injuries, including a possible broken ankle.
Police gathered additional information at the scene, including surveillance footage from a nearby Mexican restaurant.
An arrest report states that video footage showed the black Chevrolet Tahoe with silver wheels fleeing the scene, traveling south on Northwest Third Avenue, after the driver failed to stop and assist the injured pedestrian.
A short time later, police said an officer spotted a vehicle matching Moralez’s description near West Mowry Drive and Northwest 10th Street.
When officers attempted a traffic stop, they said Moralez abandoned the vehicle and ran away.
The report stated that police maintained sight of Morales during the chase, which ended when he was apprehended at Northwest Ninth Court.
Officers read Morales his Miranda rights, but said he declined to answer questions.
Police said further investigation revealed that Morales was also involved in a separate incident involving a stolen vehicle.
The Tahoe he was driving at the time of the hit-and-run matched the description of the stolen vehicle, police said.
Morales was taken to Homestead Hospital for medical clearance following his involvement in the crash and was later booked into jail, according to the report.
Jail records show Moralez is facing one count each of leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
Moralez was not listed as an inmate on the Miami-Dade jail website as of Monday afternoon.