Dashcam video shows former Venezuelan politician ran red light leading to fatal crash in Miami – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

MIAMI (WSVN) – A deadly hit-and-run took a dramatic turn after dashcam video showed the man police believed caused the crash was actually an innocent victim.

A crash Monday morning at Le Jeune Road and Southwest Eighth Street left 29-year-old Junior Eugene dead.

“It’s a hit-and-run with one fatality,” a dispatcher said via police scanner Broadcastify.

Police originally said Eugene ran a red light while heading south on Le Jeune Road, striking the white Chevy Tahoe of 55-year-old Gilber Alexander Caro and then crashing into a white two-door Toyota.

However, Miami police detectives said dashcam video from the Toyota shows Eugene, who was driving a Hyundai sedan, had the green light. The Tahoe’s driver, Caro, ran the red light and left the scene of the crash.

“He fled the crash that killed someone,” Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer said.

Caro had already been arrested for leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, but now police said he will face additional charges.

Miami police released a statement that reads in part:

“After reviewing the dash cam video from the third vehicle, it is clear that Junior Eugene (deceased) had a green light and Caro had a red light. Due to this new information, additional charges will be filed against Caro.”

“How long have you lived here?” Glazer asked.

“Two and a half years,” Caro said.

Caro is a former Venezuelan politician. More specifically, he is a former opposition deputy and former political prisoner. At some point he fled Venezuela.

The president posted a photo on Instagram of himself, dressed in a suit, standing on the steps of a small jet plane three days before the crash. The caption in Spanish detailed that three years had passed since he escaped from the dictatorship.

Only for Caro to arrive in South Florida and leave Eugene’s friends and family devastated by the loss of his life.

“He was the kind of person that, once you met him, you never forgot him,” said Shanice Owens, Eugene’s best friend.

Owens said the two have been best friends since high school. Now she can hardly believe this harsh reality.

“I didn’t think it was real. I was just asking his brother, ‘Is he telling the truth?’” she said.

Owens said he wished Caro had done the right thing to save Eugene’s life.

“He should have stayed there. He would probably still be here today. I hope he gets what he deserves,” he said.

Caro will face additional charges, but is currently out on bail. He also has an immigration detainer in his case.

Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.