It certainly was a bittersweet day Tuesday for the family of Eduardo "Eddy" Hernandez, whose wife and three children were presented with the key to the City of Coral Gables in his honor.
The Hernandez family was given two plaques and the key to the city in front of a standing room only audience while wiping away tears.
After the ceremony, for the first time his wife Fatima, with the couple’s three children next to her, spoke on what the honor means to her family.
"He was our rock and we are very proud of what he did and he is our hero," she said. "He will always be our hero."
It’s Coral Gables city officials' way of honoring Hernandez, a city employee for 20 years in the parking department, who was killed in a tragic accident early in the morning of April 13th.
Hernandez had stopped to help Miami Sunset High Seniors Caroline Agreda and Anapaula Saldana, after a crash near the intersection of Miller Drive and Southwest 157th Avenue. While they were out of their cars a man named Christopher Masferrer slammed into them.
As a result, all three died.
The pain the family faces was still evident at the ceremony Tuesday. In trying to offer some kind of comfort, co-workers of Hernandez spoke to the family about how much of a joy he was to work with.
"You would come into work and it didn’t matter even in stressful situations he would be able to smile," Kevin Kinney said.
"We are very proud of him and that’s just the way he is. He’s like that with anybody," Fatima Hernandez said.
As of now, both car crashes are still being investigated and no charges have been brought against anyone.
On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Coral Gables Emergency Responders are organizing a car wash to benefit the Hernandez Memorial Family account. Car washes will be $5. It will be located at 525 South Dixie Highway.
