Deadly crash has family seeking answers

Friday, February 16, 2007

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Willie Alvarado died Sunday in a car crash on the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

His last words were "Why me?"

That's what 28-year-old Willie Alvarado said moments before he died last Sunday after his Honda Civic crashed on the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Now his family is asking the Tampa Police Department for help.

Alvarado's family is convinced there is more to the crash that took Alvarado's life and they don't want this case filed away and forgotten. The accident occurred when Alvarado and friends were returning from a car show in Clearwater. The family said a white Ford Mustang driving recklessly forced Alvarado off the road, causing the 2 a.m. accident.

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Crash aftermath

"His friends said that this guy just came out of nowhere,'' said Alvarado's brother, Miguel, who went to the scene immediately after the accident. "He said this guy was in the same place they were and he started like bobbing in and out of traffic and he cut off a couple of his friends too."

Tampa police investigators aren't so sure, however.

Alvarado died after being thrown out of the back window of his Honda Civic.

Authorities have said a caravan of cars may have been street racing, which led to the accident that ultimately ended with Alvarado being thrown out of the back window of his car. The problem, said police, is that the only witnesses to the crash are friends of Alvarado's or friends of the driver of the white Mustang.

That driver left the scene after the accident but did call 911. Police traced that call and later questioned the driver but have not charged him with any crime. That has left Alvarado's family searching for answers and looking into hiring an attorney.

But police said without an independent witness, they may never know what really happened.

"It's very hard to account for an independent opinion from them,'' said Tampa Police Officer Lisa Parashis. "Because obviously each one is going to feel like they are looking at the situation from their perspective."

Police are asking that anyone with information call (813) 276-3564.