One Dead After Lamborghini Slams Into SUV On MacArthur Causeway
(CBSMiami) - The westbound lanes of the MacArthur Causeway reopened after a deadly crash Thursday morning.
Shortly before 3 a.m., a Lamborghini slammed into a Chevrolet Suburban stopped at the light on the causeway at Fountain Street. Witnesses told police the Lamborghini looked like it was doing in excess of 100 mph before the crash.
"After striking the Suburban, the Lamborghini continued about 100 yards after impact which is indicative of a very high rate of speed," said Miami Beach spokesman Bobby Hernandez. "There were total of three victims. Unfortunately, one of them passed away on the scene. He was a passenger in the Lamborghini."
Police identified the passenger who died as Dr. Malcom Lloyd, 42. Lloyd was the founder and CEO of Old Nassau Imports, a luxury alcohol company. According to a press release, Dr. Lloyd was honored as one of 2012's most innovative entrepreneurs.
The company issued a statement which read, in part, "All of us at Old Nassau Imports are heartbroken over the loss our friend and leader. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time."
The driver of the SUV, identified as Raul Alfonzo, 46, was headed home when he was hit.
"Our client was coming home from work. He's a hard-working man on the beach. He was coming home from work and stopped at a light after he had worked all day and he was looking forward to being with his family when this tragedy happened," said Glen Goldberg, an attorney for the Alfonzo family.
Goldberg told CBS4′s Peter D'Oench, "Right now he's in intensive care with broken bones all over his body. He is in serious condition. I don't know what the results are going to be of our investigation but this was a tragedy."
Goldberg said Alfonzo, a married father of two children, had just finished his shift at a Miami Beach
Police said the driver of the Lamborghini, identified as Andres Esteban Toro, 53, is the brother-in-law of the passenger who was pronounced dead at the scene. Criminal charges are pending for Toro.
Hernandez told D'Oench that he expected that Toro would be arrested and charges could include vehicular homicide.
Hernandez said Toro was given a blood alcohol test. He said if alcohol was a factor in the crash, Toro could be charged with DUI manslaughter.
It's not known where the men had been and why the Lamborghini was going so fast.
Both drivers were taken to the Ryder Trauma Center.
Police said the condition of Toro had stabilized.
Police said the westbound lanes of the causeway had to be closed for several hours while they conducted their investigation into the crash. The closure caused bumper to bumper traffic for miles.
Motorists driving by were horrified by images of the collision. The impact was so hard, the SUV's wheels were knocked off.
"Oh my God. I was thinking who is the person in there? You know it's very sad," said a driver who identified herself as Marcia.
Palm Island residents had to be given a police escort eastbound in the westbound lanes to get off the island. Most of them described it as inconvenient but understandable given the circumstance.
"It's been kind of crazy trying to get my kids to school but the wreck looks horrible. I feel really bad for the people involved," said Nicole Boswell, a Palm Island resident.