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Florida Hospital Employee With Large TikTok Following Dies In Hit-And-Run Crash
Leonardo Gil Fraga, a Cuban-born endoscopy technician, died after he and his motorcycle were hit by an SUV on his way home from work.
A Florida hospital worker who amassed a large following on TikTok in his spare time has died as a result of a hit-and-run, according to police.
Leonardo Gil Fraga, 34, died on Tuesday evening after he left his shift from the Hialeah Hospital, according to a GoFundMe page created by one of his coworkers on behalf of his family. The Cuban-born endoscopy technician had more than 100,000 followers on TikTok; that number has climbed since his death.
Organizers from the fundraiser claimed the “driver did not stop and left him to die” near the corner of East 21st and 8th Avenue in Hialeah, which is immediately northwest of the city of Miami.
Detectives with the Hialeah Police Department obtained video of the accident, showing a dark-colored SUV make a left hand turn at an intersection and collide with Gil's oncoming motorcycle. Now, they asking the public for their help, according to CBS Miami.
“You can see in the video after the accident happens, that the driver pulls over,” said Lt. Eddie Rodriguez. “Looks like they’re about to get out and help, but unfortunately, that vehicle fled the scene, leaving Gil on the floor.”
Gil was transported to an area hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, according to 7 Miami News.
His niece, Delia Acosta, said Gil only had the motorcycle a few months, according to NBC Miami.
“Our family right now is just devastated. He only had his motorcycle for like three months; he never had a motorcycle before,” said Acosta. “We are just devastated because you never expect something like this to happen.”
Lt. Rodriguez noted that Gil had the right of way at the intersection, at which he was going straight.
“It shows that Mr. Gil, he was traveling southbound, he had the right of way when this vehicle turned out, right in front of him,” said Rodriguez. “[It] didn’t give him an opportunity to even attempt to stop.”
Gil began working at Hialeah Hospital when he emigrated from Cuba to the United States, according to his GoFundMe campaign. He worked as a janitor before becoming a patient transporter, eventually earning his position as a technician.
The TikTok star’s Spanish-speaking videos offered a glimpse into his life as a hospital worker. His profile, under the name leonardogil01, has garnered more than 2 million likes.
“The family was not prepared for the loss of this loving, kind, selfless young man,” the GoFundMe page stated. “He leaves behind a big, loving, united family, including his young son.”
Lt. Rodriguez says they will continue to look for the driver responsible for the hit-and-run, according to 7 Miami.
“We need to ask people to look at their neighbors, look at their coworkers, if they have seen a similar vehicle and if they notice that the vehicle hasn’t been around in a couple of days to please give us a call,” said Rodriguez.
Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 1-305-471-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $5,000.
