HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) identified the person who died in the hit-and-run crash early Sunday morning on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard as an 82-year-old man.
Deputies said HCSO received a 911 call just before 12:30 a.m. regarding a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash near 43rd Street.
When deputies arrived, they found the victim, identified as Francisco Lugo, 82, unresponsive and began lifesaving measures until Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews arrived and pronounced the person dead, according to a news release.
HCSO said Lugo had been walking southbound along the northbound curb when an unknown vehicle struck them and fled the scene.
Investigators are seeking assistance in locating a dark colored SUV believed to be involved in the crash. HCSO said parts recovered from the crash scene are believed to be a 2021 or newer Kia Sorrento. The suspect's vehicle is believed to be missing its passenger-side exterior mirror.
WATCH: Victim identified in hit-and-run crash on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard: HCSO
Lugo's family says he had dementia and had been living at a nearby care facility for about 8 months. They believe he left for one of his usual walks before he was struck.
"From the cameras, he left at 11:30 that night," Aixa Millan, Lugo's niece, said. "He was a very independent man, so being in a facility has saddened him a little bit, and he liked to take his little walks."
Lugo was known to his family as Junior or Frankie — and he was a son, brother, uncle, and father.
"He was a loving, caring man, hard worker, family-oriented. And for him to die like that. It's not right for anybody," Aneudi Millan, Lugo's nephew, said.
Aneudi Millan described the moment he learned of his uncle's death.
"I received a phone call Sunday morning that my uncle was hit by a car," Millan said.
Aixa Millan said the circumstances of her uncle's death made the loss even harder to bear.
"It was devastating, because no human being should be, should have to spend the last days, obviously, on the side of a road," Aixa Millan said.
The family is calling for accountability.
"We would like to know who hit him and left him there — maybe it was an accident, but he left them there, so, now he has to be held accountable," Aneudi Millan said.
"And we just want justice, because he deserves justice," Aixa Millan said.
The family also expressed gratitude toward a bystander who stopped to help Lugo in his final moments.
"I don't know who the lady is but she tried to do everything she can to save my uncle," Aneudi Millan said. "And I know me, myself and my family, we really appreciate her for trying everything. And if there's any way somebody knows who that lady is, we would like to reach out to her and say thank you."
"And if you would come up forward, we would like to appreciate you, and thank you personally, because not everybody would have done what you did," Aixa Millan said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
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