SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - One teen was killed and four other young men were injured after, police said, a car lost control and hit a tree in Southwest Miami-Dade, Saturday morning.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Police responded to the scene of the crash near Southwest 62nd Street and 138th Path, at around 5 a.m. Investigators said the victims’ 2005 Nissan Altima was heading east at a high rate of speed on Kendale Lakes Circle, a curved road, when the driver lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a concrete wall and a tree.
Images of the crash show the car over a wall with the trunk completely detached from the vehicle. The roof was also removed because fire rescue had to extricate the passengers from the sedan.
The driver of the Nissan died at the scene. He was later identified as 18-year-old Ned Alvarez.
The four others were transported to Kendall Regional Medical Center as trauma alerts. They were identified as Cesar Lizarzaburu, Deandre Cabrali, George Pong and David Cuadros.
Police said they are all between the ages of 18 and 20.
Sunday afternoon, two of the passengers were listed in critical condition, and the two others were upgraded to fair condition.
A friend of the victims told 7News Alvarez was going to be a father. “Great person, taken too young, 18 years old, has a baby on the way,” said Anthony Prieto
A friend who got a call about the crash spoke to 7News. “She was actually hanging out with them earlier that night, and I guess they were all like, ‘OK, you go in your car, we’ll go in our car and we’ll meet up.’ And, I guess they started falling back, and I guess they were a little weirded out, and one of them actually lives right by here, so I guess that’s when they came and they followed them to the hospital in the ambulance,” the friend said.
Police believe alcohol is a factor. “One of the stable individuals did tell uniformed officers at the hospital they had been drinking prior to getting into the car, so now we know that alcohol is also involved,” said Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta.
Once the mangled car was towed from the scene and the roof was removed, the site became a memorial for grieving family and friends. “I light a candle just to remember him,” said Victor Calderon.
“Me and him have been there for each other through thick and thin,” said Prieto. “He was much older than me. Whenever you needed someone, you know.”
Zabaleta said the tragedy should serve as a reminder for young drivers to avoid drinking and driving, and for their parents to remain vigilant. “If this doesn’t open your eyes as a community, then what will?” he said. “Talk to your children, educate your children. We’re coming into the holidays. “We’re coming into Thanksgiving … Let’s not drink and drive.”
The accident remains under investigation.
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