TAVARES, Fla. – A Marine veteran and father was killed Sunday night in a hit-and-run crash while riding his bicycle on Alfred Street just outside of downtown, Tavares according to police.
Tavares Police said Frank Carrasquillo died after being struck by a vehicle on Alfred Street near downtown Tavares.
Police are still looking for the driver responsible and Carrasquillo’s brother, Junior Montero, is hoping someone comes forward.
“I’m just asking if anybody has any information that they would just come forward to kind of help us get some closure out of it,” Montero said.
Montero had the painful task of identifying his brother after the crash.
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“When the doors opened I remembered falling to the ground because I realized it was my brother Frankie that was laying on the bed and they had his head wrapped in a towel and so I had to unwrap the towel to identify him,” Montero said.
Montero said his brother had already been through a lot before the crash.
Carrasquillo had previously survived a road rage stabbing several years ago.
“Having bounced back from that, he came back to a world with one eye and one arm and I’m sure it took a lot of morale away from him,” Montero said.
Montero believes his brother, Frankie, was likely fishing the night of the incident because he had fishing gear in his pockets like a new pack of hooks.
The activity had become therapeutic for Carrasquillo, helping him cope with PTSD following the stabbing.
“He had a son,” Montero said. “They spent some time building a boat together and their plans were to go fishing together, and so I think that’s how he was able to cope with what happened to him.”
Tavares Police they may have identified the type of vehicle involved in the crash.
Investigators said based on a piece of evidence left behind at the scene, it could be a 2005-2010 light colored or silver Honda Odyssey and could have significant damage to the front passenger side.
“At least we are able to narrow that down and that’s why we’re relying so much on the community for assistance. Whether they have information, or surveillance video, or anything,” said Tavares PD Detective, Courtney Sullivan.
Montero and his family just want answers.
“It’s difficult. The emotion comes in waves,” Montero said. “You could be driving down the road and then just have to pull over because I really can’t get his face, what I’ve seen out of my mind.”
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to contact the Tavares Police Department.