http://www.nbc6.net/news/9681707/detail.html

Day Laborers Struck By Van In Miami-Dade

POSTED: 11:34 am EDT August 15, 2006
UPDATED: 9:40 pm EDT August 15, 2006

MIAMI -- A man was killed and two were injured after being struck by a van in Miami-Dade County on Tuesday morning.

Miami-Dade police said it happened at about 10:30 a.m. near the intersection of Southwest 106th Avenue and Southwest 190th Street.

Police said the victims were day laborers working in the area.

Witnesses said the accident involved two Salvadoran men and a Colombian man who were standing around a van parked near the shoulder along Southwest 106th Avenue.

The man who died was from El Salvador, and the others were transported to an area hospital. At least one is in serious condition, reported NBC 6's Carlos Vergara.

It appeared that two vans were involved in the collision.

"The van stopped," said Albert Fell, a witness. "The immigrants were around the van. It looked like the brown car hit him in the back. Anybody who was in front of the van got hit."

Eric Campos was driving to Home Depot when he encountered the accident.

"I saw a bunch of guys lifting the car off the (victim)," he said.

One man who came upon the scene after the collision occurred said that the incident could have been avoided.

"It could've been avoided if the county did the right thing and enforced the laws," said activist George Ramos. "If you look at previous reports, there is an ordinance in the books. It's called Loitering For The Purpose Of Day Labor. We've been trying to get the county, for a year, to take care of the problem that's going on here. Nothing has happened."

Police are questioning the driver of the van, Luis Aguirre, 75. He has not been charged.

The incident remains under investigation.