A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly hit-and-run near Miami International Airport on Thanksgiving Day. Miami-Dade police say 36-year-old Gerson Jean, who works as a ramp worker at the airport, was behind the wheel during the tragic incident.
It happened early in the morning, just before 4 a.m. on November 28. According to investigators, Jean was driving his gray 2021 Kia K5 sedan along the Central Boulevard Expressway when he hit a man who was walking eastbound. The crash was caught on the airport’s surveillance cameras, which also captured the car’s license plate. Police traced the plate back to Jean, who lives in Lauderhill.
Emergency crews from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue rushed the injured man to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Sadly, he passed away the next day. His name has not been released.
The investigation picked up speed last week when detectives found Jean’s car at a body shop in Lauderhill. The vehicle was being repaired for damage that police say matched what happens when a car hits a pedestrian. Two days later, Jean returned to the shop, and detectives were waiting. They took him into custody.
Records show Jean has a history of traffic violations in Broward County, including driving with a suspended license, running a red light, and making an illegal U-turn. Now, he’s facing much more serious charges: leaving the scene of a fatal crash and tampering with evidence.
As of Monday, Jean remains in jail at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami. His bond hasn’t been set yet. He’s being represented by a lawyer from the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, but so far, they haven’t commented on the case.
This tragic story has left many in the community shaken, especially as it unfolded during a time meant for gratitude and togetherness. Authorities continue to investigate, and more details may come to light in the days ahead.
