Hello, everyone. Finally am able to join this wonderful site. I've been reading for a couple of weeks now and am very impressed with the posters here. I don't know if this has been posted, but didn't Casey say that Caylee's Dad was killed on the way to her birthday party? I am aware that Cindy mentioned, yesterday, that the father lived out of state but in regards to Mr. Ortiz, I don't think he was the father of Caylee. He passed away in May of 2007 and Caylee's birthday is August 9th. Unless Casey lied (AGAIN) then Jesus Ortiz could not be the father.
UCF student dies in tragic car crash
SGA senator still in the hospital
Robyn Sidersky
Issue date: 5/21/07 Section: News
PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 2 next > The lives of three UCF students were changed forever May 8 when a violent car crash on Alafaya Trail left one student dead and sent two to the hospital.
Jesus Ortiz, a business major, died in the crash.
Ortiz left Boardwalk Apartments driving a 1999 Honda Accord. His girlfriend Sarah Rogers, a Student Government Association senator and president of the Society of Women Engineers, was in the passenger seat.
Seth Merle was heading north on Alafaya Trail in a 2007 Mazda. Ortiz turned right onto Alafaya Trail to go north and pulled in front of Merle's Mazda.
Merle swerved to try and avoid the impact but hit the driver's side.
The violent impact of metal and glass crushed the driver's side of the Accord nearly into the passenger seat and sent both vehicles spinning into the southbound lanes.
When Florida Highway Patrol officers arrived, Ortiz was already dead. His girlfriend, Rogers, was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in a coma. She's now listed in stable condition and has made progress toward recovery.
"[Ortiz] was probably one of the best people I ever knew," said friend Stephanie Kostakis in an e-mail. "I never saw him without a smile on his face. He had a kind heart, a good head on his shoulders, and could brighten up anyone's day.
"I went to the viewing. Normally when you go they say the person should look 'at peace,' but he didn't," Kostakis continued in the e-mail. "He looked uncomfortable. It wasn't his time."
Merle was taken to ORMC as well, and has since been released.
FHP Trooper Kim Miller said that charges are pending in the accident. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash.
However, neither Rogers nor Ortiz were wearing seatbelts.
Ortiz's viewing and burial were held on May 7 and 8. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery.
His best friend, Valencia student Robbie Swiebel, described him as someone who "enjoyed everything. [He liked] to eat, [go to] the beach, the finer things in life, but mostly just being with his friends."
UCF student dies in tragic car crash
SGA senator still in the hospital
Robyn Sidersky
Issue date: 5/21/07 Section: News
PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 2 next > The lives of three UCF students were changed forever May 8 when a violent car crash on Alafaya Trail left one student dead and sent two to the hospital.
Jesus Ortiz, a business major, died in the crash.
Ortiz left Boardwalk Apartments driving a 1999 Honda Accord. His girlfriend Sarah Rogers, a Student Government Association senator and president of the Society of Women Engineers, was in the passenger seat.
Seth Merle was heading north on Alafaya Trail in a 2007 Mazda. Ortiz turned right onto Alafaya Trail to go north and pulled in front of Merle's Mazda.
Merle swerved to try and avoid the impact but hit the driver's side.
The violent impact of metal and glass crushed the driver's side of the Accord nearly into the passenger seat and sent both vehicles spinning into the southbound lanes.
When Florida Highway Patrol officers arrived, Ortiz was already dead. His girlfriend, Rogers, was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in a coma. She's now listed in stable condition and has made progress toward recovery.
"[Ortiz] was probably one of the best people I ever knew," said friend Stephanie Kostakis in an e-mail. "I never saw him without a smile on his face. He had a kind heart, a good head on his shoulders, and could brighten up anyone's day.
"I went to the viewing. Normally when you go they say the person should look 'at peace,' but he didn't," Kostakis continued in the e-mail. "He looked uncomfortable. It wasn't his time."
Merle was taken to ORMC as well, and has since been released.
FHP Trooper Kim Miller said that charges are pending in the accident. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash.
However, neither Rogers nor Ortiz were wearing seatbelts.
Ortiz's viewing and burial were held on May 7 and 8. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery.
His best friend, Valencia student Robbie Swiebel, described him as someone who "enjoyed everything. [He liked] to eat, [go to] the beach, the finer things in life, but mostly just being with his friends."
