MIAMI — The parents of a young man who was killed in a wrong-way wreck are determined to keep his legacy alive.
Eight months after Frank and Tiffany Urrutia’s son, Ezekial, was killed, they are holding to their promise.
“Zeke was very dedicated to saving lives,” said Frank Urrutia. “It’s something that I’m grateful for. His quote was ‘Saving lives is the most honorable thing you can do.’
They’re handing over a $5,000 check to the first Zeke Urrutia Firefighter Scholarship Recipient, D. Jones.
“Being that he’s no longer around, I felt that it was important to create a scholarship that others take the cost to become a firefighter and to save lives that my son will never be to save,” said Frank Urrutia.
In January, Zeke was driving on the Florida Turnpike in Miramar when police say Sunshine Perez was driving the wrong way when she crashed into the 23-year-old’s car, killing him.
She’s accused of driving drunk.
Zeke’s dream of saving lives as a firefighter was cut short.
Karls Paul-Jones, the academy’s fire chief at Miami-Dade College remembers Zeke well.
“Zeke was remembered for his passion and smile,” he said. “He had that spirit that he was happy to be there. And I can tell that being a firefighter was his passion.”
This scholarship money gives D. Jones all the help he needs to start the training to become a firefighter and live out the career Zeke didn’t get to complete.
“I’m extremely honored, and I won’t let him down, I’ll make sure I give it my all to the school and the whole process of fighting fire,” he said.
Perez was charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and reckless driving.
She was granted a $400,000 bond in May, but at last check, she remained behind bars.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for late next month.
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