Sep 30, 2009 10:45 pm US/Eastern
Suspect Is Arrested In Deadly 836 Hit & Run
NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) ―
Police have officially charged Charles Lurton Bible with the hit and run crash death of a South Florida Businessman on the 836 Expressway in August.
On Wednesday
CBS4 News confirmed that the 69-year-old suspect was charged with DUI Manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crash with death. The accident occurred around 9:20 p.m. on August 11th, when Rodolfo Garmendia, 36, got out of his BMW, which was pulled to the side of road on the Dolphin Expressway (836) near the exit to State Road 826. Investigators said the driver of the Ford F-350, Charles Bible, veered off the road, struck Garmendia and then kept on going.
Garmendia had helped his family run Hurst Awning and Hurricane Shutters for more than 17 years and is listed as Vice President of Operations.
Garmendia's brother-in-law, Jose Luis, said, "We lost a very good guy. He loved his kids, he loved his wife, he was a great brother-in-law. He helped out anyone who needed help." Luis said, "We'd like some clarity on this issue of how this accident happened and how the truck may have veered across several lanes of traffic before hitting my brother-in-law."
Esther Giamanco, who had worked with Garmendia for the past 17 years, told CBS4 News, "I still can't believe what happened. This is very hurtful. Very very hurtful. He was one of those people that would help anyone. There are no words to explain this loss. It's not a good feeling."
Adam Lubkin, a family friend, said has was talking to Garmendia just before he was killed.
"I was on the phone with Rudy about 9:16 p.m.," said Lubkin, "He told me he had a flat tire and wanted to get out and check the tire."
Lubkin said he remembers when Garmendia left college after getting a call from his mother who wanted him to come back to South Florida to help out in the family business after Hurricane Andrew hit.
"Knowing Rudy, (he felt) it was probably his civic duty and his community duty to come back and help out South Florida. He was one of the most community oriented people I have ever met in my entire life. I've never met a guy with as many friends," said Lubkin.
Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Pat Santangelo said the Ford F-350 was found about an hour after the accident in a Doral neighborhood.
When the story first broke,
CBS4's Peter D'Oench spoke to Bible's wife. She said her husband has hired an attorney and did not want to speak. She declined to give us the name of that attorney.
CBS4.COM's Daniel Lastra contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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