{Another Mexican illegal DUI}Man charged in fatal accident
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Posted on Mon, Apr. 16, 2007
Man charged in fatal accident
By ROBERT NAPPER
rnapper@bradenton.com
MANATEE - A Mexican man in the country illegally is facing a charge of DUI manslaughter in the death of a motorcyclist Saturday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP Cpl. David Brunner said Rusbelt Amilcar Diaz-Lopez, 21, of Ruskin, pulled a 1996 Pontiac Firebird from a gas station driveway in front of the motorcycle about 9:25 p.m.
The 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle slammed into the front of the Pontiac, killing Richard "Rick" Liberi, 54, of Sarasota.
Diaz-Lopez then fled the scene, at 14th Street West, just south of 53rd Avenue West, leaving behind pieces of the Pontiac.
Just after the accident, a Manatee County deputy pulled Diaz-Lopez over.
During that traffic stop, FHP radioed saying troopers were looking for a Pontiac Firebird. The deputy held Diaz-Lopez until FHP troopers arrived.
Pieces of debris from the wreck left at the scene, matched damage on the Pontiac. Brunner said Diaz-Lopez was visibly intoxicated.
"We took blood and he did a breath test," said Brunner.
Brunner did not release the results of the breath test. Blood test results usually take weeks.
Diaz-Lopez had a Mexican identification card, but has no American documentation, Brunner said.
"He told me has been here one or two months from Mexico," said Brunner.
The fact that authorities say Diaz-Lopez drove drunk on the night of the accident hit Liberi's parents, Victor and Adele, hard.
"It is terrible. We are going to join MADD," said Victor Liberi, also of Sarasota.
Diaz-Lopez has been charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and driving with no driver's license.
But no witnesses have come forward claiming to have seen the accident. The only thing linking Diaz-Lopez to the crash is the debris from his car, Brunner said.
"We are asking for anyone with information about this crash to call us," said Brunner.
Diaz-Lopez is the second person in less than a week to be charged with DUI manslaughter in Manatee County.
Last Wednesday, FHP troopers charged Ronnie Lee Friddle, 26, of Bradenton, with DUI manslaughter in the death of pedestrian Lisa G. Ryan.
Ryan, 46, was walking on the shoulder of 30th Avenue East, at 9th Street East, when Friddle's truck swerved and hit her.
Troopers believed Friddle to be impaired, and later found prescription pills in a tool box in the bed of the truck he was driving truck, reports said. He has since been released on $53,620 bond.
Diaz-Lopez is being held without bond in the Manatee County jail, as troopers continue to investigate Saturday's crash.
Meanwhile, the Liberis are trying to cope with the loss of their son, a Philadelphia-born carpenter, who has lived in Sarasota for 36 years.
"He was a great guy," said Victor Liberi. "That is about all I can say right now."
Liberi said his son, who went by Rick, had become a motorcycle enthusiast of late, and had just bought the Harley destroyed in the accident.
"He was in his glory on that bike," Liberi said. "He loved it."
Liberi is also survived by his 18-year-old daughter, Denise, who is to graduate in a month from Pine View High School in Sarasota. She will attend Flagler College in the fall, Liberi said.
Anyone with any information regarding the accident is asked to call Brunner at 751-7647, ext. 131.
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