Father wants justice for son in North Fort Myers hit-and-run

Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published:
Photo by WINK News.

A father is pleading for a driver to come forward and take responsibility for his son’s impending death. Freddie Santiago said someone hit his 37-year-old son Patrick Santiago on Sunday and left him to die. Patrick is in hospital care and is expected to be taken off life support.

MORE: Hit-and-run leaves an North Fort Myers man with critical injuries 

Santiago told WINK News his son was the joy of his life in an exclusive interview in North Fort Myers Monday.

“Besides apprehending these people that did this cruel thing to my son, I just want to remember him for his good times, his big smile, Santiago said. “I’m gonna miss him. I’m going to miss my son Patrick.”

Santiago’s world was changed forever when Florida Highway Patrol knocked on his door this past weekend.

“He told me it was an emergency, and I needed to go to the hospital right away, which I did,” Santiago said. “And to find what I found was very disheartening.”

Santiago said Patrick was walking home from the RaceTrac gas station near Hancock Bridge Parkway when a car went onto the sidewalk on Beau Drive and hit him. The driver left Patrick and fled from the crash.

“Disheartening because I just, number one, why would you want to do that to someone and not stop?” Santiago said.

Doctors pronounces Patrick brain dead, Monday morning, but Freddie said his son will live on.

“And now we’re just waiting to harvest his organs because he’s going to save a lot of lives with his body,” Santiago said.

Santiago remembers all the qualities that made his son Patrick who he was.

“Patrick was a piece of work, always happy, always smiling,” Santiago said. “Biggest heart ever. Small little guy, biggest heart ever.”

Santiago wants justice for Patrick and his family.

“Fess up,” Santiago said. “Man up … man up. Woman up. Whoever it may be, please do that.”

A celebration of life was held in honor of Patrick at lee Memorial Hospital.

For anyone who has information about the incident, contact FHP.

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