TAMARAC, Fla. – A South Florida man facing DUI charges after a an early-morning crash in Tamarac that left one man dead has bonded out of jail.
Broward Sheriff's Office deputies said Conan Acevedo, 40, was driving west on West McNab Road just before 2:30 a.m. when he ran a red light at Northwest 70th Avenue and crashed his SUV into the driver's side door of a Honda Civic.
Witnesses told Local 10 News reporter Michael Seiden that the crash sounded like an explosion.
"I was inside the building and I heard the whole building shake, and then I noticed that there was an accident outside and the SUV basically had hit the Honda Civic," William Rodriguez said.
In surveillance video, the driver of the Civic, Nicolas Garcia, 18, is seen stopped at the intersection. When the light turns green, he starts to head south, unaware that his life is in danger.
Investigators said that's when Acevedo blew through a red light, slamming into Garcia, who was only five minutes from home.
"He literally got pushed probably 50 or 60, at least, feet," witness Eric Balaban said.
Balaban rushed to try to save Garcia's life.
"He was absolutely fighting for his life," Balaban said.
Garcia was taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
"This didn't have to happen," Garcia's former football coach, Nick Cabral, said.
Deputies said Acevedo refused treatment at the scene and appeared to be impaired.
He was found to have a blood-alcohol level of 0.18, deputies said.
Acevedo posted bond and was released from jail on Monday.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with the Coral Glades High School graduate's funeral expenses.