According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel Former Miami Heat Star Alonzo Mourning, who is also the team’s Vice President of Player Programs and Development, is being sued stemming from a hit and run crash on Sunday on Miami Beach.
William Candelario, 21, was driving home from Miami Beach early Sunday morning when a blue Porsche the former Heat star was driving slammed into Candelario’s 2010 Audi, causing the car to flip over several times, according to Coral Gables attorney Spencer Aronfeld.
Sgt.Tom Pikul of the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that Mourning, 41, was involved in the second of two separate crashes involving Candelario’s car.
He said Candelario’s car and another vehicle apparently had collided and were “stopped on the roadway” when the Porche that Mourning was driving struck Candelario’s car.
The incident occurred between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. and Mourning did return to the scene about 45 minutes later in a vehicle driven by his wife, Tracy.
Candelario, a college student in Miami, was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for a concussion and bruises. According to his attorney, he is also suffering from memory loss.
Whenever you hear of anybody leaving the scene of an accident, especially one at 3 a.m. on the way home from Miami Beach, red flags are going to be raised left and right.
Given the fact that he suffered severe kidney disease several years back that required him to quit drinking, it is hard to imagine that he would be driving drunk. That is not to say that his condition may have improved to the point where he can drink a few and was afraid he may blow over the limit on the breathalyzer.
Aside from being a Miami Heat legend, Zo is also known for his philanthropy in the Miami area, including the Annual “Zo’s Summer Groove”, a music, comedy and celebrity basketball weekend that is celebrating its 15th year and has raised more than $7 million for local South Florida programs and initiatives supported by Alonzo Mourning Charities.
Mourning and his wife also have a high school named after them, Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High.
This incident will no doubt raise the same arguments that came from the Donte Stallworth incident, will Zo’s power and influence buy him a get out of jail free card (if the law were to show he was at fault)?
If you ask me, the victim saw dollar signs driving away when he recognized Mourning (once he realized he was OK). I find it interesting that even before criminal charges are filed, they have already brought about a civil suit.
If what they want is to get paid, there is little chance Mourning will face any repercussions from the criminal case. This will of course bring out the debate that he received preferential treatment and a lot of people will have ammunition for when they get on their soap box.