11year old Ashley Valdez was killed by a hit and run driver

From Justnews.com

MIAMI — Miami-Dade police are looking for the driver of a pickup truck that struck and killed an 11-year-old girl Thursday evening.

According to police, Ashley Valdez, a student at Howard Doolin Middle School, got off the school bus around 6:35 p.m., on her way home from an after-school program.

She was crossing Southwest 80th Street at 149th Avenue when a light-colored truck with dark tinted windows hit her and fled.

Valdez’s mother, Adonay Rosete, told Local 10 that she had concerns about Ashley crossing that street.”She’s supposed to call me when she gets across the street but this time she didn’t,” Rosete said.

Police said the truck that hit the girl was a full-size, four-door Ford F-150 from 2003-2006 that was either white or light silver.

The truck had tinted windows and a chrome gas cover, and its front left grill is damaged, police said.

“When I heard the impact, it sounded like a car hitting another car. It didn’t sound like a vehicle hitting a human,” said witness Matt Maritza.

Ashley Valdez’s mother told Local 10 she forgives the driver who struck and killed her daughter.”I forgive you. You probably panicked, but I’m not God. Let him forgive you, not me,” she said.”I just want this person, whoever you are — you are not going to bring her back, but turn yourself in and say sorry at least,” said Jenny Rosete, Valdez’s aunt. “Let us know what happened.”

Adonay Rosete said she had complained to the school and the bus company to change the stop so her daughter would not have to cross a busy street with no stop signs.

“The bus didn’t even know what happened when she crossed the street, and was going to cross the second part of the street, because the bus was gone,” Adonay Rosete said.

The School Board of Miami-Dade County is investigating Adonay Rosete’s claims.

Friends, family members and neighbors continued Friday to gather at the spot where Valdez died, and many wondered if something could be done to make it safer.”To tell you the truth, it’s really dark. They need some more lights and they need to put a three-way stop sign or a light here at this intersection, because you have cars racing through here at 60 mph,” said neighbor Freddie Garcia.A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).People who would like to help the family of Ashley Valdez pay for her funeral can send donations to:Ashley Valdez
San Jose Funeral Home
250 E. Fourth Ave.
Miami