Deputies release vehicle description after teen killed in hit-and-run in North Lauderdale

NORTH LAUDERDALE, Florida. — Broward Sheriff’s Office officials released a vehicle description Tuesday as they continued their search for a hit-and-run driver who killed a 16-year-old boy on a bicycle the week before.

The accident happened after midnight Thursday near the 5100 block of North State Road 7 in North Lauderdale, west of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, officials said. They identified the victim as Mark Garay; his grieving mother told Local 10 News he was on his way home from work at the time.

A BSO news release said the suspect was driving an older white sedan with tinted windows, possibly a Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis. Authorities provided a photo of a similar vehicle on Tuesday.

“Investigators say the white sedan drifted into the bike lane and struck Garay, who veered to the right and off the roadway, where he remained for approximately an hour before being found,” BSO spokeswoman Claudinne Caro said in the release. “According to investigators, the suspect fled the area in the vehicle heading north, then made a U-turn and passed the scene heading south.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sean Strzalkowski of the BSO Traffic Homicide Unit at 954-321-4845 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

According to BSO, informants can receive a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.