Thread: Tampa Mayor's Driver Killed In Wreck

http://tboblogs.com/index.php/newswire/ ... _in_wreck/

Tampa Mayor's Driver Killed In Wreck
Posted February 25, 2006 at 04:50 PM


By BEN MONTGOMERY
bmontgomery@tampatrib.com

TAMPA A Tampa police detective who provided security for Mayor Pam Iorio died Saturday after a car crash at Interstate 75 and Gibsonton Road.

Juan Serrano, a 17-year police veteran who was also a driver for Iorio and a fixture at City Hall, was on his way home after an assignment when a man driving a 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix ran a red light and crashed into Serrano’s city-issued Ford Taurus about 12:45 p.m., said Hillsborough County sheriff’s office spokesman J.D. Callaway. Iorio was not with Serrano.

The driver of the Pontiac, Jose Luis Espinoza, 35, of 6129 Palm Ave. in Gibsonton, ran from the scene. Sheriff’s deputies and a tracking dog found him hiding under a dock near a canal less than a mile away, Callaway said.

Espinoza, who did not have a valid driver’s license, was hospitalized with cuts and abrasions, Callaway said. He was listed in good condition Saturday night at Tampa General Hospital.

Espinoza was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving a death and having no valid driver’s license in a crash involving a death, both felonies. Callaway said Espinoza would also be held on an immigration detainer after he is released from the hospital.

Serrano suffered a head injury but was responsive before being airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where he died, Callaway said. Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin said Serrano was married and the father of three children, ages 29, 26 and 19.

“A tremendous sense of loss has rippled throughout the department,” Durkin said. “Juan Serrano was an extremely well-respected detective. He’s put 17 dedicated years to protecting this community. He’s going to be missed.”

Iorio last saw Serrano on Saturday morning at the Gasparilla Distance Classic.

“How quickly life can change,” she wrote in a statement. “I will always remember this wonderful officer, this friend, this very special person who lived to make life better for others.”

Sheriff’s deputies were looking for a second person who fled from Espinoza’s car after the crash. Callaway described him as a hitchhiker and said authorities haven’t been able to identify him.

Wow

W

added to homepage

http://www.alipac.us/article-1067-thread-1-0.html

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Wow

W

Yeah. It could have been the Mayor. I'll be that would have made the national news.

Can you believe it ?! Very most likely an illegal alien. Plus I've told you guys that here in Florida, there are illegal alien parents who are letting their illegal alien teenagers drive at the age of 13, 14 and 15, way before they are even of the right age to be driving. I've seen it many times. That's how they do it in their home countries so why not in OUR country ?
If it works there, why not apply the same ideas here.

Hmm. What do you think Governor Bush ? Excuse me, Governor Bush, could you repeat that in ENGLISH