Police investigate whether 17-year-old was drag racing before he died
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Detectives are looking into whether a 17-year-old boy was drag racing before he crashed into a tree and died.
On Thursday morning, friends and acquaintances visited the crash scene, which still had police investigation tape over it to put together a memorial where they left letters, flowers and balloons for Edward Hazelwood. They described him as a "good kid."
"I saw him just yesterday, the day that he passed," said Daniel Ruiz. "He seemed like a happy kid, like nothing was going to happen to him. He came to school, and he was hanging out with everybody, talking to everybody like he knew it was his final goodbye to everybody."
Miami-Dade Police said two cars were speeding down West Meadow Lake Drive at around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, when Hazelwood lost control of his car and crashed into a tree. Friends at the scene said Hazelwood was racing another friend, who they identified as 18-year-old Giovani Cordano, who police have already arrested.
When Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews arrived on the scene of the crash, they found the teen's white Toyota pinned to a tree near Southwest 49th Street and 155th Avenue. "It was crushed like a tuna can," said Herb Valentin, who witnessed the crash.
Valentin lives in the neighborhood and saw the car speeding through the area. "He was flying down this street, which is a residential area. He was doing about 80," he said.
He also witnessed Cordano exit his car to try and help his friend. "He pulled the young kid from the vehicle, and he just started screaming and crying," Valentin said.
Miami-Dade Police said speed was definitely a factor in the crash, and that the teenage driver may have been trying to outrun another white Toyota. "This is a tragedy, and obviously a life has been lost here," said Miami-Dade Police Detective Juan Villalba. "This is a reminder that high speed in a vehicle, if indeed these individuals were racing, there are some dangers associated with that."
After Cordano was released from jail following his booking on possession of a controlled substance, he made it out to the memorial to pay his own respects.
Cordano does have prior arrests for reckless driving and speeding. His brother, Paul Cordano, also made an appearance at the memorial and expressed his concern over the teenagers' need for speed. "Just slow down," he said. "There ain't no need to be speeding. We are losing too many of our friends."
Hazelwood's friends did admit they believe the two were drag racing and added that they are sorry they had to learn this horrible lesson the hard way. Police have yet to confirm if there was drag racing involved, but they did say speeding is a regular issue on that road.
(Copyright 2009 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
