Teen killed in LaBelle by hit-and-run driver

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Memorial set out for teen hit by car (CREDIT: WINK News)

Police are searching for the driver who hit and killed a 15-year-old boy in Hendry County, Thursday night.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the car was traveling west on Case Road, east of State Road 29 when the front of the car hit a teen bicyclist who was also traveling west. FHP suspects the car was a white SUV. The driver left the teen to die on Case Road.

Laura Escobedo is the aunt of the teen who died. She told WINK News, “I know nothing’s gonna bring him back. But it’s not fair that as a family we have to grieve for our loved one. We still have to deal with the anger of the person who ran them over is still out there and I feel like that person needs to come forward, and if it was an accident you need to prove yourself that it was an accident. We need closure.”

A neighbor who wants to keep her identity private out of respect for the family spoke about what she sees every day on the road.

“People speeding extremely fast,” the neighbor said “It’s ridiculous. The rate of speed they come from the end of this road is crazy.”

The teen was a student at Labelle High School and there are counselors available for students who need to talk to someone.

If you know anything, contact the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8477, submit online at southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or on the P3 Tips mobile app.

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