Exclusive: Family Of Victim In DJ Laz Boating Accident Speaks Out
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The family of a young man killed in a boating accident involving DJ Laz is reacting after the popular radio personality spoke out publicly for the first time.
DJ Laz was at the helm of his boat back in May when Ernesto Hernandez, 23, got caught in the boat's propeller while he tried to help push it out of a Key Biscayne sand bar.
Hernandez's sister, Milly, said she is hurt and offended by what she called his lack of remorse.
"I think he's just a selfish person," Hernandez told CBS4's Gaby Fleischman. "All he did was put everybody else's life in danger, revving those motors how he was revving them. He didn't care for nothing except for his boat or for himself. And now I think he's doing the same thing, using my brother's death as publicity for his station and for his business."
Watch Gaby Fleischman's Report
CBS4's Lisa Petrillo spoke exclusively to DJ Laz during the debut of his new radio show. In litigation now, Laz cannot discuss details about the accident but did reflect on the tragic day.
"I basically locked myself in a room for a couple of weeks and cried," he said. "At the end of the day it is the worst possible thing that could ever happened. I'm a dad, I'm a brother, my heart absolutely goes out to the family. I wish one day I could speak to that family and I've made attempts to. Once there are attorneys involved there's nothing that can be done, but the worst thing that's ever happened to me by far."
Hernandez said Laz never tried to apologize to her family. She cried as she watched the interview.
"Why do you keep saying it's the worst thing to him? The worst thing is to us. We lost someone we're never going to be able to replace him, We're never going to be able to move forward from it, so how come he keeps saying him, him, him? He's making it all about him when it's about a person that's no longer here," said Hernandez. "He didn't even send flowers, I mean you would think someone who is remorseful would try to send flowers, no flowers to his funeral nothing. No kind of remorse, no sign of being a human or emotion at all."
DJ Laz, whose real name is Lazaro Mendez, has not been charged. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said investigators did not give him a breath test because there was no probable cause to believe he was under the influence at the time of the accident.
"There are lots of questions," said Hernandez. "Hopefully justice will be served."
The State Attorney's Office is still reviewing the case.
Hernandez's family has filed a civil lawsuit against DJ Laz and multiple companies. Voli Spirits and Park Street Imports, a vodka company that, according to the family's lawyer was hosting a vodka boat party on Nixon Beach when Hernandez died. Plantation Boat Mart and Marina, the company that allegedly owned or controlled the boat, are also named in the lawsuit.
The Hernandez family says they want a sincere apology from DJ Laz, and hope Ernie's death will serve as a reminder for boaters to be careful out on the water, especially with Labor Day coming up.
RELATED CONTENT:
