A 26-year-old Collier County man and a 21-year-old Lehigh Acres man died in a single-vehicle crash Friday morning in Labelle.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said Epifanio Hernandez, 26, and Tomy Olivarez, 21, were killed when a 2003 Cadillac CTS driven by Olivarez swerved off the road and landed in a ditch. The front right of the vehicle hit an embankment, causing the vehicle to overturn.
The Hendry County crash, about 20 miles north of Immokalee, ejected all three men in the vehicle. Another passenger, Jose Alonzo, 21, of Immokalee, was hospitalized with minor injuries, troopers said.
None of the men were wearing seat belts. It's unknown whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.
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Comments » 24
NeezDutz writes:
I'm so sorry.
I can't express my sadness in words
Lemme writes:
RIP!
roadhouse writes:
Obama is putting together a bill with these exact requirements as this is being written.
n8vbabe writes:
Its a tragedy that could happen to any of us. Being young, you dont realize something as simple as going the speed limit could save lives. Its a sad loss to the Immokalee community.
SherylS writes:
Tomy will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all of us who knew him from the Immokalee Housing & Family Services after school and summer camp program at the Carl J. Kuehner Community Center at Timber Ridge. While he was a high school student, he volunteered with elementary school students in the program. Tomy was a hard worker and great role model for the young kids he tutored. Tomy will live on through the lives of the young children he helped at the program. His life may have been cut short, but he made a difference while on this earth. My condolences to his family and friends.
TiredoftheBS writes:
DUMBA55E5 not wearing seatbelts.
Hopefully they weren't able to pass on their stupid gene before this crash!
beerbong writes:
These terrible things are happening way to often. We all need to take a step back and look at our own driving. We throw blame around too much. If we were all perfect these kind of thing would not happen. Defensive driving on everybody's part would go along way towards ending crashed like this. I stopped calling them accidents. People try to prevent accidents,aggressive drivers know who you are and THINK you have a right to drive any way you want. And get PO'd if anyone calls you on it. Slow Down, Buckle up, Drive safe. If you see anyone driving like and IDIOT,get their tag number and call the cops on them.
muleman1 writes:
'Get their tag number and call the cops on them'
GOODLUCK> USEless!
lillyana100#265087 writes:
My cousin Epifanio Hernandez will be missed. It's sad to see how inconsiderate you are not knowing or caring that he indeed leaves behind 4 children.
I don't wish this pain on anyone or their families.
Anyways, I hope we can all be careful wear our seat-beats and drive safe!
It can all be gone in a seconds.
and Thank you guys for the condolences.
sailing writes:
good one!!!!
sailing writes:
sounds to me like tomy was a real good guy! and your the dumb a--!
wrightconnection writes:
Are you serious? Have you never made a mistake? We should all be so lucky to be as perfect as you! Your cold hearted comments are out of line here. Yes, they should have been wearing seat belts, but they were young and made a serious mistake and paid the ultimate price for it. The family members don't need to hear your worthless dribble at this time. It would serve you right if you were berated at the time of your death. Who's the DUMBA55 now?
TiredoftheBS writes:
It's "you're"!
TiredoftheBS writes:
Mistake? Mistake!?
A mistake is spilling a drink on the floor or putting dish washing liquid in a dishwasher.
This is complete stupidity because it cost LIVES!
Everyone wants to ignore the truth and push it to the background. If people would step up and accept the truth, face it head on and do something about it, then and only then will stupidity like this, end!
So go ahead on your fantasy merry way, get all emotional and defensive but still do nothing about it and when some more of your friends DIE, you can get all defensive and emotional again but still do nothing!
BTW: He's 26 years old and has 4 kids? Who is paying for them and how? He must have had a very good paying job or are the kids just "mistakes" too?
lillyana100#265087 writes:
Accept the truth? When has anyone denied that he wasn't wearing a seat belt?
As I've said- be safe and drive safe, from this I only hoped people could see how easy it could be to lose your life for a few seconds it could take to save it.
don't come here with your ignorance.
You didn't know Epi or any of the people in this crash.
His kids were not mistakes you cold, poor, ignorant man.
I don't know your situation personally but I'm guessing you had nothing by that age? To question even his occupation is really childish, come back with something that is valid for how you think... we all know the difference it would have made to have worn a seat belt, so please keep your offensive comments to yourself. I wouldn't wish this to someone close to you. Having someone always jib at the wrongs we all already know doesn't bring any good from a bad situation.
:) Have yourself a very good day. Be safe.
TiredoftheBS writes:
lillyana100#265087 writes: don't come here with your ignorance. You didn't know Epi or any of the people in this crash.
TiredoftheBS writes: Don't need too but it's obvious they were being stupid!
lillyana100#265087 writes: His kids were not mistakes
TiredoftheBS writes: That's great, but just because he CHOSE to have kids doesn't mean it isn't a mistake. Could he afford them, if not, it's a mistake!
lillyana100#265087 writes: I don't know your situation personally but I'm guessing you had nothing by that age?
TiredoftheBS writes: Sorry to disappoint, by that age I was 5 years into a CAREER, married (I wonder if he was), paying, I repeat, PAYING for a mortgage on a home and had 1 child but only after I was sure I could afford it! I waited 4 years until I could afford another. You know, "personal responsibility" and all that!
lillyana100#265087 writes: To question even his occupation is really childish, come back with something that is valid for how you think...
TiredoftheBS writes: Just as I expected, your deflection and dodging of the question validates my assumption that he wasn't gainfully employed and used govt assistance to support himself and his kids. How many baby mommas are there?
lillyana100#265087 writes: I wouldn't wish this to someone close to you.
TiredoftheBS writes: Already has. That's why I always point it out and will continue to do so whether or not others don't like it!
lillyana100#265087 writes:
I should have known to present you with his background check and income tax records.
Seriously speaking and sarcasm aside, I don't know why I even tried to explain anything to you, it makes me equally immature arguing with someone like yourself.
I've already said to much in response on my previous posts, which is all irrelevant to what has happened here and arguing with you-especially at a time like this is pointless..
- =[ - I Went to the crash site earlier with a couple other family members. Having it been the second time being there didn't make it any easier.
I can't highly express to please be safe and drive safe..
MacGumbo writes:
It's so senseless that just to avoid taking 1 second or 1 click, people take a chance on losing their life.
It's not like there isn't proof or evidence that seatbelts save lives, there is and in massive abundance!
Hey idiots! Wear your effing seatbelts!
BTW: Gotta agree with TiredBS about personal responsibility. You shouldn't be producing kids if you can't afford them and by all appearances, he was extremely irresponsible and couldn't.
Making babies doesn't make you a man, it makes you a breeder!
By having kids that way and putting them at such a severe disadvantage in life really says volumes on whether you truly love them!
NeezDutz writes:
The father is a great friend of mine.
He is part owner of one of the biggest concrete constructions companies in town.
His whole life was/is devoted to his family. Your assumptions make me sad that you have placed this man in a group of people that suck the tit of America.
His son made a grave mistake by not wearing his seat belt.
I can guarantee that you have driven without your seat belt at least once or did something silly at 21 years old. As you can see from this tragedy, that's all it takes.
You really should be ashamed of yourself for your accusations. I pray that you don't have children and if you do, I pray they abide by every rule and law and nothing ever happens to them...ever.
While you are sitting there getting mad and thinking about a well formed attack/rebuttal at me, think about what it would be like to lose one of your children in this manner.
TiredoftheBS writes:
Why would I be mad? I'm glad he is living off his father and not me. I still hope he was raising a family and not just a breeder.
Yes, there were times I didn't wear a seatbelt but it wasn't the law at the time and there wasn't nearly the public awareness. No excuse overall but then it is even less for him.
I have taught my children to do the right thing, if they don't and end up paying the ultimate price, then even in my grief I will say that their action was STUPID! Unlike others in denial!
NeezDutz writes:
He had a job. I pray you never have to go through the pain their family is going through and the over 700 people that attended his wake last night.
Nobody's in denial but for you to rub in in their face, is just cruel.
Have a nice day.
Maddydave writes:
I don't see how or why his kids were put in this conversatation, or weather he can afford them or not, this isn't the topic of this tradic event...mistakes were made so what? this was clearly an accident!!!, I knew all three men involved accident condolences go out too both the hernandez family and olivarez family.
NeezDutz writes:
Thank you
MacGumbo writes:
Actually it was lillyana who brought up kids. She was referring to tired's rant about seatbelts!
Whether or not he could afford them is a tragic event, if he couldn't!
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