Reward offered to help find driver in hit-and-run

A Miramar family is keeping a vigil at the hospital bedside of Deferious Puyol, who is in an induced coma after being struck by a hit and run driver 11 days ago.

“He’s getting better, the swelling in his head is going down, the brain is functioning,” said Puyol’s mother, DeVara Puyol. “There is hope for him. I have a praying family.”

Deferious Puyol, 28, nicknamed Ferious, is a landscaper who was crossing the 2600 block of South State Road 7 on March 31. It was about 9:42 p.m. when he was on an errand to get some cigarettes. A vehicle that police did not describe struck him and drove away, traveling south, Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues said Tuesday.

“The vehicle would have front end and front windshield damage,” Rues said. “We hope that anyone who sees a vehicle in the area with extensive damage will call us.”

Or call Broward County Crime Stoppers, which is offering a $4,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens donated $1,000 and the rest comes from the crime fighting organization that accepts anonymous tips at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.

Deferious Puyol attended Parkway Elementary School in Miami and Miami Norland Senior High, his mother said. He lives with her in Miramar and is a big fan of the NBA team Miami Heat, his mother said.

His family includes three adult sisters and a brother. There are also four nephews and a niece that he enjoyed spoiling with trips to a park or stores, “to buy them what they want,” Puyol said.

“He’s just a very good person,” Puyol said. “He don’t bother nobody. He’s a good son. I just want somebody to come forward and say something. Justice is all I want for my son.”

She is “still mad” when she sees her son in a hospital bed.

“It’s not a good feeling, he don’t deserve that,” she said.

On Monday, she felt hopeful.

“He can’t squeeze my hand, but he opened his eyes, he recognized me yesterday,” she said.

“We’re gonna keep on praying until the driver gets a conscience,” she said.