Posted on Wed, May. 16,
LAND O'LAKES
Driver is charged in boy's death

LAND O'LAKES -- (AP) -- A man who slammed his pickup truck into the back of a sports utility vehicle, pushing it into a moving train and killing an 8-year-old boy, has been charged with manslaughter while driving under the influence, authorities said.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested Eli V. Alvarez, 26, on Sunday when he was released from the Tampa hospital where he was taken after the crash. He was in jail Tuesday with bail set at $100,000.

Alvarez didn't notice the SUV stopped at the railroad crossing while the lights flashed and a CSX train passed Thursday, troopers said. He rear-ended the 2000 Mitsubishi Montero and pushed it into the moving train, troopers said.

Second-grader Kevin Bryant Jr. died at the scene.

His mother, Heather Eres, 29, was injured and remains in critical condition, her family said.

Witnesses said Alvarez stumbled around the accident scene afterward asking people what happened.

Beer cans were found scattered in and around his Toyota pickup, FHP said.

Alvarez, a native of Mexico who authorities said is in the country illegally, had a blood alcohol content of 0.23 percent, nearly three times the legal limit, according to police.


http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/108184.html