One man dies, cousin injured after they are struck by car

One man is dead and his cousin was hospitalized after the pair were struck by a car as they crossed a roadway in North Lauderdale, according to authorities.

Killed was Alex Cheguen-Reyes, 34, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said. Injured was Jerson Morataya-Cheguen, 23, his cousin.

The men had crossed the northbound lanes of North State Road 7 in the 5300 block about 10 p.m. Saturday and were struck when they stepped into the path of a car in the southbound lanes, witnesses told deputies.

The driver slowed down after the collision but then continued southbound as the pedestrians lay on the roadway, witnesses said.

Moments later, the driver of a southbound GMC Sierra pickup saw the men laying on the roadway and attempted to swerve but could not avoid running over Cheguen-Reyes, deputies said. The driver, Eugene Battaglio, 43, of North Lauderdale, remained on the scene.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue took both men to Broward Health Medical Center. Cheguen-Reyes was pronounced dead. Morataya-Cheguen remains in critical condition.

Deputies ask anyone with information about the suspect vehicle or the driver to contact BSO Detective Mike Wiley at 954-321-4840.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.

“I think the parks are a very good thing to use it for,” said Lenore Wachtel, a member of a city board that oversees spending of the money from the tax. “We have the money, so we might as well use it.”

In additional to the park upgrades, the city plans on using $5.2 million to repave about two dozen roads. Major thoroughfares on the list include Northwest Second Avenue, Palmetto Park Road, Southwest 12th Avenue and Butts Road.

The money would also pay for new street lights and a fire station renovation.

Funds from the countywide tax can only be used for infrastructure improvements — such as roads, schools and parks — that were delayed Recession.

Palm Beach County voters agreed to a penny increase of the sales tax last year to raise $2.7 billion. The tax began in January and sunsets in 10 years unless the county raises the money before then.

Until recently, it had been unclear how Boca would use the millions of dollars it anticipates from the tax. Unlike other cities in the southern county area, Boca did not have a backlog of repair projects that needed funding.

Places such as Delray Beach and Boynton Beach listed tens of millions of dollars worth of projects for dilapidated roads.

Jeffrey Livergood, Boynton’s director of public works, said the city already started on road-striping projects. Sidewalk replacement by the Great and “significant amounts” of repaving will kick off in the fall, he said.

Boca raked in about $2.4 million from the tax from the first five months of this year so far, according to Boca spokeswoman Chrissy Gibson. Since the money trickles in monthly, Gibson said the city plans to get the anticipated sum up front through a bond in order to start on the projects. It could take at least a year for the city to get the bond money for the improvements, she said.

First, the city has to approve the budget and the money for the parks. Residents will get a chance to weigh in during the first public budget hearing on Sept. 11.

achokey@sun-sentinel.com, 561-243-6531 or Twitter @aric_chokey