DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jon Fornataro’s only son, Cardino Fornataro, was on his scooter Jan. 23rd, when a dirt bike crashed into him.
“It’s very upsetting and it’s scary as a parent because he could do this again,” Jon Fornataro said from outside Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach where his 25-year-old son has been since then.
Fornataro, who moved to Volusia County with his wife from Ohio six years ago, told News 6 he hopes bringing awareness to their story will help put the driver of the dirt bike behind bars. The driver failed to stay on the scene or call for help.
“There’s a lot of kids in our neighborhood. It’s a heavy tourist area — just to be able to leave somebody there bleeding to death and take off, there’s something wrong with that individual,” he said,
The crash happened in Ortona, a Daytona Beach neighborhood at the intersection of Grandview and Nautilus avenues. The Fornataro family hopes someone will come forward with information.
[TRENDING: 17-year-old found shot to death in Orange County | Palm Bay councilman Pete Filiberto accused of DUI, carrying cocaine in shoe | Brevard community rallies behind family whose son played in Super Bowl | Become a News 6 Insider]
“It was in the area behind Bellaire Plaza and south to the elementary school. Anybody in that neighborhood, if there’s anyone that could just check their cameras Jan. 23, 6:15 p.m., that would be fantastic,” he said.
Fornataro’s son suffered extensive injuries to his right leg and has already undergone eight surgeries.
“His bone was compound fractured, you know split in half, a lot of soft tissue missing,” Fornataro said. “Luckily there was a neighbor, James, came down and put a tourniquet on his leg, my wife was there holding pressure on his leg until the EMT got there.”
According to the family, the driver of the dirt bike was speeding in their residential neighborhood when he struck their son.
“If the guy on the dirt bike would’ve been going the speed limit nothing would’ve ever happened,” Fornataro said.
From his hospital bed, Cardino Fornataro had a message for the dirt bike driver who caused his injuries.
“I hope he turns himself in, that what he was doing is very dangerous, he could’ve killed someone,” he said.
In an email to News 6, Daytona Beach police said the investigation remains active and they are still searching for the dark-colored dirt bike and male driver who hit Cardino.
“I think that’s amazing that you guys are out here trying to help us, you know, and help the police catch this guy. Get him off the streets before he hurts somebody else’s kid, it could’ve been much worse,” Jon Fornataro said.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: