MIRAMAR, Fla. – Onyxia Delinois, an active marathoner and businesswoman, was out running with a group in Broward County when a driver changed her life.
Delinois, 26, a mother who served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and owned an insurance agency in Sunrise, now depends on a wheelchair and 24/7 care.
6 p.m. report:
Her husband, Roosevelt Delinois, described her as “brilliant, intelligent, driven, ambitious,” “truly good at everything” and the love of his life.
“I don’t believe she knows that I’m her husband ... but I believe she knows that I’m always here comforting her, giving her kisses,” he said on Monday adding, “There’s a strong possibility that she won’t get better that she won’t recover.
“If she, does miraculously, is able to recover, she won’t ever be who she was before.”
According to the Miramar Police Department, the driver struck her on April 6, while she was running ahead of the group in Miramar, near Miramar Parkway and Southwest 184 Avenue.
Fire rescue rushed her to Memorial Regional Hospital where Dr. Andrew Rosenthal said she had suffered a critical head injury. She was in a coma after undergoing emergency surgery.
Meanwhile, detectives were still investigating the case and have been asking the public for help with finding the driver who didn’t stop to help the marathoner or call 911 before turning into a fugitive.
“I’m devastated for her and I’m devastated this happened to my family,” Roosevelt Delinois said. “I wan’t to hold this person accountable. I want to see who did this. I want to know who did this.”
Detectives hope the $15,000 reward for information motivates someone to call Broward County Crime Stoppers to provide a helpful tip that could result in the driver’s arrest and conviction.
Ramona Messore set up a fundraiser to help the family saying they were in shock, “absolutely devastated and overwhelmed” after the hit-and-run crash.
On a GoFundMe page, Messore wrote, “Help with medical and legal expenses, transport and care for their son, pet care and so many other additional expenses that come up.
“Let’s help Roosevelt care for Onyxia without the worry of all of these expenses as we pray for her recovery.”