Driver Killed During T-Bone Crash with Stolen Vehicle in Orlando

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on April 27, 2023

A Flagler Beach community is in a state of shock, disbelief, and grief this week after the 23-year-old son of a local restaurant owner was killed during a T-bone collision near Dean Road in Orlando this past Sunday morning.

According to early auto accident reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, it was close to 4:36 a.m. on April 23, 2023, when 23-year-old Christian Romero was heading home from work while driving a 2016 Toyota 4Runner in the eastbound direction of an exit ramp on State Road 408. As the University of Central Florida alumnus entered the approaching intersection with Dean Road, a 15-year-old driving a stolen 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe ran a red light and slammed into the driver’s side of the Toyota 4Runner at a high rate of speed.

Multiple officers with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol were dispatched to the scene of the two-vehicle accident. Upon their arrival, they sadly discovered that 23-year-old Christian Romero had sustained fatal injuries during the collision.

The group of teenagers from the stolen Hyundai Santa Fe were all transported to a local hospital where they received medical treatment for a variety of non-life-threatening injuries.

“Why did you not know where your children were, why did your children have access to a car at 15 years old at 4:30 in the morning,” said the victim’s heartbroken sister in a statement to the media.

A celebration of life/candlelight vigil for Christian Romero has been scheduled for 6:00 p.m. tonight at his parent’s restaurant Tuscany by the Sea located at 308 S. Ocean Shore Blvd. in Flagler Beach. Since the beloved Italian eatery will be closed for an undetermined amount of days to deal with this tragic situation, a GoFundMe account has also been created to help the restaurant’s family and staff.

This deadly collision is currently under investigation. No formal charges have been filed at this time.

Since 1977, Orlando wrongful death lawyer James O. Cunningham has been fighting for the rights of victims who have been killed due to the negligence of another motorist on the roadway. To schedule a free 30-minute case evaluation, please contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.