Hit-and-Run Driver Accused of Killing Woman in Northwest Miami-Dade Arrested: Legal Options for Families After Tragedy

The Miami-Dade community is reeling after a fatal hit-and-run crash claimed the life of a young woman over the weekend. According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO), the driver responsible has now been arrested and charged.

Officials confirmed that Edwin Serrano, 46, was taken into custody on Monday and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first-degree felony under Florida Statute § 316.027.

The tragic incident occurred shortly before 5:30 a.m. Sunday in the 3400 block of Northwest 32nd Avenue.

Authorities say Serrano was driving his 2017 Cadillac Escalade northbound when he struck 26-year-old Stefhany Reconco-Rosales, who was walking eastbound near Northwest 35th Street.

According to the arrest report:

• Reconco-Rosales was hit with such force that she was vaulted onto the roadway.
• Surveillance video captured Serrano’s vehicle slowing down briefly after impact, before accelerating and fleeing the scene.
• Rescue crews found the victim critically injured and transported her to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she later died.

Deputies located Serrano’s vehicle in Miami later that day. Shortly afterward, Serrano turned himself in at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, invoking his right to counsel and declining to give a statement.

In Florida, leaving the scene of a crash involving death is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Lawmakers strengthened this statute in response to the high rate of hit-and-run fatalities across the state.

However, while criminal charges aim to punish the offender, they do not provide direct compensation to the victim’s family. That is where the civil justice system plays a vital role.

Civil Legal Options for Families After a Fatal Hit-and-Run

The family of Stefhany Reconco-Rosales may have several avenues to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim under Florida Statutes §§ 768.16–768.26 (Florida Wrongful Death Act).

If Serrano carried auto insurance, his insurer may be required to cover some damages. Additionally, if Reconco-Rosales or her household carried Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, that policy may provide another source of recovery, especially in a hit-and-run scenario.

Cases like this highlight the complexity of pursuing justice after a fatal crash:

• Insurance companies often try to limit payouts, even in tragic cases.
• Hit-and-run drivers may claim they panicked or were unaware they hit someone.
• Criminal and civil proceedings run separately, and families must act quickly to preserve their rights under the two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Florida.

At Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury & Wrongful Death Law Firm, our attorneys specialize in holding negligent drivers and other responsible parties accountable. We understand the emotional devastation families face after losing a loved one and fight tirelessly to secure full justice — both financial and legal.

If your loved one was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Miami-Dade, you do not have to face this fight alone. Call 305-638-4143 today for a free, confidential consultation with our experienced wrongful death attorneys. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win compensation for your family.