Tampa police say a wrong-way crash on the Selmon Expressway left a man dead early Sunday morning.
Just after midnight, officers say a witness saw an F-250 pickup truck driving recklessly near South MacDill Avenue and West Hawthorne Road. The witness said the truck did not have headlights on, failed to stop at several red lights and drove the wrong way down one-way streets.
The witness eventually lost sight of the truck but police say moments later, the driver got onto the Selmon Expressway and started heading east in the westbound lanes.
Officers tell us the driver hit another vehicle head-on just east of the Platt Street exit ramp.
The man behind the wheel of the vehicle that was hit has been identified as 68-year-old Bamnet Narongchai. Police say he died as a result of the crash. We are told he was on his way home from work.
Friends of Narongchai say for the last 37 years he volunteered every week at the Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple in Tampa. He would serve up food to the thousands that come out each weekend for the BBQ.
Fellow volunteer and good friend of Narongchai, Nite Smith, says she just can’t believe he was killed.
“Everywhere we go, we go with each other,” Smith said wiping away tears. “He was so nice. I don’t know how to tell you how nice he was.”
Police have identified the driver of the pickup truck as 27-year-old Stephen Paleveda. Officers say he ran away from the crash after it happened but was found nearby. He is still being medically cleared.
Tampa police say alcohol was a factor in the crash and charges are pending.
The Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple will hold three services for Narongchai Sunday, Monday and Tuesday all beginning at 7 pm.