Florida hospital worker, 34, with more than 100,000 TikTok followers is dead after hit-and-run

A Florida hospital worker with more than 100,000 TikTok followers has died after being involved in a hit-and-run accident while leaving his shift.

Endoscopy technician Leonardo Gil Fraga, 34, had been riding on his motorcycle at around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday before he was hit by an SUV that was turning left at the intersection of East 8th Avenue and 21st Street in Hialeah, a city in Miami-Dade County.

The driver of a dark-colored SUV was captured turning left onto the roadway only seconds before Gil – who had the right of way – had entered the intersection. 

Girl was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he eventually succumbed to his injuries. He leaves behind a young son.

He had been employed at Hialeah Hospital for more than a decade where he started as a janitor after his family immigrated from Cuba before working his way up to a patient transporter and then an endoscopy technician. An endoscopy is a procedure used to examine the inside of the body using a flexible tube. 

A GoFundMe page for the TikTok star was created to help cover funeral expenses and $45,289 had been raised as of Saturday night, exceeding the family’s $30,000 goal.

The identity of the driver remains under investigation and police are asking anyone with further information to come forward.

Florida hospital worker and TikTok star Leonardo Gil Fraga, who has 100,000 TikTok followers, worked as an endoscopy technician at Hialeah Hospital in the Miami area

Florida hospital worker and TikTok star Leonardo Gil Fraga, who has 100,000 TikTok followers, worked as an endoscopy technician at Hialeah Hospital in the Miami area 

Fraga, 34, died on Tuesday night after he was struck by a dark-colored SUV in a hit and run incident

Fraga, 34, died on Tuesday night after he was struck by a dark-colored SUV in a hit and run incident

Gil was remembered by his family, friends and fellow hospital workers as a 'loving, kind, selfless young man'

Gil was remembered by his family, friends and fellow hospital workers as a ‘loving, kind, selfless young man’

Video footage of the incident has since been released revealing the moment Gil had been struck by a dark-colored SUV. 

‘In the video, you see that the vehicle pulls forward and it looks like it’s about to stop, it does stop for a very short period of time but then it just takes off again,’ Hialeah Police Lieutenant Eduardo Rodriguez told NBC Miami. 

‘So now that person could be facing some very serious charges.’

Police are continuing their search for the suspected driver after he was briefly seen getting out of his vehicle via the footage before taking off and leaving Gil behind.  

‘We need to ask people to look at their neighbors, look at their coworkers, if they have seen a similar vehicle and if they notice that the vehicle hasn’t been around in a couple of days to please give us a call,’ Rodriguez told 7News Miami.

‘We’re going to keep looking for more video. We’re going to be going up and down every block, and we’re not going to stop till we can find another home, or location, a gasoline station, till we find something that captures the vehicle fleeing and provide us with more information that can help us get to the bottom of this.’  

Video footage captured the incident as a dark-colored SUV was seen waiting at the intersection of East 8th Avenue and 21st Street in Hialeah

The SUV driver then made a left turn as Gil was heading down the intersection with his motorcycle

The SUV driver then made a left turn as Gil was heading down the intersection with his motorcycle

Gil was then struck by the driver who then fled the scene after the incident

Gil was then struck by the driver who then fled the scene after the incident

Gil had used his social media platform to give a glimpse into his life working at the hospital

Gil had used his social media platform to give a glimpse into his life working at the hospital

Gil’s family continue to mourn their loss, remembering him as a ‘loving, kind, selfless young man.’

‘Our family right now is just devastated,’ Gil’s niece Delia Acosta told NBC Miami. 

‘We are just devastated because you never expect something like this to happen.’

‘We’re just very close family. It’s not like just relative that you don’t even see. He is my everything, my family’s everything.’ 

Family members, friends and his fellow hospital workers gathered for a memorial on Thursday in honor of Gil.

Tributes were also made to the former TikTok star on Facebook.  

‘My heart is simply broken…..you were so much to so many…..the smile and the face of your workplace,’ his former co-worker Shirley Martell posted.

‘What a huge void we will all feel without your joy, energy, making us run for your softball hits, and for being the best Grinch EVER!!

‘Gone but not forgotten….. RIP friend, you did good.

Gil's colleagues made tributes to their former co-worker who had been with the hospital for 10 years after moving to the US from Cuba with his family

Gil’s colleagues made tributes to their former co-worker who had been with the hospital for 10 years after moving to the US from Cuba with his family

‘I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Leo at Hialeah Hospital and the truth that I still find it a lie that he is no longer with us,’ another former co-worker Melanie Gomez posted. 

‘I will always remember him with a big smile, coffee in hand for everyone, and dancing salsa in the hallways simply because he was always in a good mood.

‘I will be praying for his family that God will give him peace in a difficult time.’ 

Gil’s aunt Katiuska Fraga also made a post on her page as the police continue investigate the culprit.   

‘We continue to search for the culprit of his death. Share if you know anything please call the police,’ she said. 

‘This crime can’t stay Impune [sic], maybe you’re watching it right now, I’m just telling you, surrender yourself cowardly, dirty bitch, person without feelings. Put yourself in our shoes.’  

Gil was also remembered by his TikTok followers where he often gave a glimpse into his life at work and where he often spoke in his native Spanish language. 

source: dailymail.co.uk