72-Year-Old Man Charged In Hit-And-Run

MIAMI, FL — A 72-year-0ld man was charged in connection with Monday's hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian. Leon Morton was charged on Tuesday with leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury.

The 54-year-old woman was seriously injured in the incident, which occurred shortly after 7 p.m. as the woman was attempting to cross the street at NW 4700 block and NW 32 Avenue.

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said that the investigation centered around a red Toyota Tundra pickup truck. He said that the vehicle suffered damage to its passenger side and passenger-side mirror.

"The pedestrian was vaulted onto the sidewalk," according to Detective Argemis Colome of the Miami-Dade Police Department. "At 11:22 p.m., the defendant was observed driving a 2000 Toyota Tundra through the parking lot of the Marathon gas station located at 1701 NW 27 Ave., Miami Gardens."

Colome said said that Morton displayed signs of impairment and police called for a DUI investigation, though Morton was not charged with DUI.

The victim was taken by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. She was in critical condition as of Tuesday.

Police said earlier that they had surveillance video of the woman being struck by the Toyota.

To report a tip, contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or 866-471-8477; Visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select “Give a Tip” or text "CSMD" followed by the tip information to 274637.

Photo courtesy Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation