Family mourns Mekhi Hoosein Quiles, who died in car crash in Miami Gardens

A mother is speaking out after her 21-year-old son was hit and killed at a busy intersection in Miami Gardens earlier this week.

The serious accident occurred on Tuesday around 4:10 a.m. at the corner of 183rd Street and 22nd Avenue.

The driver, identified by his family as 21-year-old Mekhi Hoosein Quiles, was just nine minutes from home.

“I ran there to be there for my son. I just couldn’t hold him or see him. I just had to be strong for him,” said Narisa Hoosein, the victim’s mother.

Hoosein said she was awakened by a text message on her son’s cellphone informing her that he had been in an accident. His iPhone transmitted a GPS location to the accident site and his mother followed it.

“When I got to the scene, I saw the yellow crime scene tape and flares in the ground,” Hoosein said. “I knew he was gone when the officers came over and asked, ‘Ma’am, can I speak to you?’ and they gave me a card that said ‘homicide.'”

According to Miami Gardens police, Quiles was traveling southbound on NW 22nd Avenue in an orange Ford Taurus when the driver of a gray Infinity traveling westbound on NW 183rd Street “disregarded the light” and struck Quiles.

According to authorities, Quiles died at the scene.

“I ran there to be there for my son. I just couldn’t hold him or see him,” Hoosein said. “I just had to be strong for him.”

The driver of the Infinity was taken to hospital.

The family said the 21-year-old had been accepted to St. Thomas University the day before the crash and hoped to one day work in the hotel industry.

He was a son, grandson, brother and cousin.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with unexpected funeral expenses.