Thread: FL: Nine years for accident that killed cyclist

Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007

Nine years for accident that killed cyclist
By NATALIE NEYSA ALUND
nalund@bradenton.com

An illegal alien, who was charged with killing a motorcylist while driving drunk, pleaded no contest today to charges including DUI manslaughter, and he was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Rusbelt Diaz-Lopez, 22, admitted to Circuit Judge Janette Dunnigan in court that he is responsible for the April 14 death of Sarasota resident Rick Liberi, 54, who was killed during a collision on U.S. 41 near State Road 70.

Lopez pleaded no contest to charges including DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident causing death, and various traffic violations including not having a drivers' license.

Diaz-Lopez, of Mexico, was in the country illegally when the crash occurred.

Prosecutor Garrett Franzen said Diaz-Lopez, driving a Pontiac Firebird, pulled out of a gas station into the path of the motorcycle Liberi drove, causing Liberi to crash. Diaz-Lopez left the scene, Franzen said, but a witness identified the Firebird as the vehicle that hit Liberi.

A short time later, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper pulled Diaz-Lopez over in the Firebird, and Diaz-Lopez admitted he was driving the car, Franzen said.

His blood alcohol content registered at about .117, above the level that is considered to be drunk, Franzen said.

Diaz-Lopez apologized to family members of Liberi this morning. Liberi's sister, who attended the hearing at the Manatee County Courthouse, cried and forgave Diaz-Lopez.

http://www.bradenton.com/breakingnews/story/286344.html

What the hell is wrong with these judges? 9 years is far to short a sentence for what this idiot did. Isn't this the guy who left the scene and drove home, only to find the victim had crashed through the rear window and was lying half in and half out of the car? Sorry to be so graphic.

Do we have trend of special treatment for illegals ?? DUH..