FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A former Miami-Dade police officer accused of trying to cover up his role in a fatal hit-and-run crash changed his plea Monday, the day his trial was scheduled to begin.

Michael Alayon, 29, pleaded no contest to leaving the scene of a crash that killed Ryland Nye, 54, of Pompano Beach, in October 2006.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Nye was rear-ended as he drove west on Interstate 595 near Flamingo Road on Oct. 10. Nye's vehicle hit a guardrail and flipped over, ejecting Nye. He was killed instantly when two other vehicles ran over him.

The driver of the Lexus that hit Nye's sport utility vehicle took off on foot, the FHP said, but the car was registered to Alayon.

Police went to Alayon's house hours after the wreck and found him there. The officers said Alayon told them he had been at his girlfriend's house earlier and that his house had been burglarized and his car stolen. But, according to court records, Alayon had several bruises and cuts consistent with the crash.

Nye's family was in the courtroom as the 29-year-old entered his plea.

"No matter what the judge sentences this man to, I'm not ever going to get my husband back," Debbie Nye said.

Alayon, who was fired from the Miami-Dade Police Department, refused to speak with reporters after changing his plea. His attorney said Alayon made a mistake and is remorseful about the incident, but he denies being drunk.

"I can't get into his mind (about why he fled the scene)," attorney Sam Rabin said. "The best I can tell you is I think there was just a bad decision at the moment. We all have made bad decisions on a moment's notice, and he regrets it."

Nye's family has filed a civil lawsuit against Alayon.

"He chose to get in the car and he chose to drive the car while he was drinking," Nye's daughter, Candace Jones, said. "He chose to leave the scene of the accident. He is going to choose his destiny."

Alayon faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for July.

He also faces charges in Miami-Dade County for filing a false police report.