HYATTSVILLE, Md. — Prince George's County Police are asking for the public's help to find a driver who hit and killed a man with a car over the weekend. Police say the pedestrian got lodged in the driver's windshield, and the driver continued driving for two miles and left the man on the side of the road to die.
Officers responded to the 7500 block of Ardwick Ardmore Road for a welfare check. The pedestrian, later identified as 28-year-old Franklin Membreno Mendez of New Carrollton, was found there and pronounced dead at the scene.
Neighbors in the area where Mendez's body was found believe they caught the whole thing on the doorbell camera.
"I was terrified. I didn't know exactly what had happened because I hadn't seen my video at that time," said the neighbor, who did not want to be identified. She discovered the man's body in the light of day and called the police.
The victim's girlfriend, Gaby Ramirez spoke to WUSA9. She said it was difficult to watch her partner die in such a tragic and painful way.
“It hurt me to see my partner there, on the side of the road. He’s a human being. He didn’t deserve this,” she explained.
Ramirez said Mendez was dropping his sister off at work when the incident happened. She further explained that she and Mendez had plans to move in together and start a family soon. She said the driver was heartless doing what he did.
“I would ask him why," Ramirez said. "He left many people with broken hearts. Especially mine, because we had plans. One of them was renting out our apartment and living together. Honestly, it’s impactful, imagine all that distance he dragged my partner. He couldn’t just leave him there? He’s not an animal. He’s a human being.”
Police say Mendez was lodged in the driver's windshield the driver continued driving for two miles before dumping him on Ardwick Ardmore Road.
"Disturbing is the only word to describe it. I can't imagine the pain this family is going through knowing their loved one experienced that," said Officer Emily Austin, with Prince George's County Police.
Preliminarily, investigators believe Mendez was involved in an unrelated minor collision in the 8900 block of Annapolis Road, about two miles from where his body was discovered. Police say Mendez got out of his car and was hit by another car.
The car is believed to be a 2011-2017 gray Honda Civic with a large white decal across the top of the back window. The car will have damage to the passenger side front bumper, fender and a hole in the windshield.
"For him to drive up in here, he had to know this street was a dead end," the neighbor who spoke to WUSA9 said.
Neighbors say because the street doesn't go through, they often see people from outside the neighborhood. People who live near the roadside memorial for Mendez hope the case is solved quickly.
"I'm afraid to come home at night because of this," the neighbor said.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit at 301-731-4422. Anonymous tips can be submitted via Prince George's County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.
Police are also reaching out specifically to body shops and windshield replacement companies, telling them to be on the lookout for the gray Honda.
Now, the family is asking for the community's help. They've started a GoFundMe for Mendez to help with funeral costs.
"Our family was not prepared for this difficult time. It would mean a lot if you could the fundraising for Frank's funeral with others who knew him." said Alejandra Rivas in the post.
If you would like to contribute to the GoFundMe, click here.