At least four Pinoys among victims in Florida highway smashup

One moment, they were looking forward to closing business agreements with potential new clients.  The next moment, they were on the news, victims of a smashup on a Florida highway. Dennis Ortiz, 33; Lily Marie Azarcon, 26; Albertson Almase, 31, and Kristina Almase, 26, were killed early morning April 3 when their Kia minivan was smashed head-on by a Chevy Suburban traveling the wrong way on Interstate 95 in North Miami, according to reports. Philippine residents Ortiz and Azarcon reportedly had just flown into Fort Lauderdale, and the Almases, who were siblings, picked them up at the airport just before the tragedy. The Almases were believed to be with the U.S. Navy and were staying with residents of Fort Lauderdale. Ortiz and Azarcon were traveling in the United States on a “road show” or a series of sales presentations to prospective clients of the major Philippine real estate developer Ayalaland. Tragic turn Police said the crash occurred at the height of a police pursuit of a suspect at about 1 a.m. for making an illegal right turn.  The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Willie Dumel, got off the freeway and then headed back on the I-95 on the opposite direction, according to Opa-locka PD. NBC6 Miami reported that the department released their chase policy prohibiting pursuits involving traffic violators and that officers should not drive against the flow of traffic. The officer on the chase, Cpl. Sergio Perez, has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending investigation.  Authorities did not comment if he had acted according to procedure. “It’s still an ongoing investigation. So at this point, I’m not going to comment on anything more than the information I’m giving you,” OPD spokesperson David Chiverton told reporters April 5. A recording of the police dispatch released to the media the day after the crash recounted the chase. "OK, this guy's all over the road, now he's going against traffic on I-95, we're going northbound in the southbound lanes,” Perez said in the recording. Perez then reported that the suspect had thrown a gun out of the window.  The officer’s next observation went beyond description as he exclaimed: “Oh my God!” “It's a tragedy," Chiverton told reportes. "There's no words to help." Charges were pending against the suspect, who reportedly was hospitalized for two broken legs. ‘Full of promise’ “Dennis was a loving father to his kids,” Philippine News publisher Francis Espiritu remembered Ortiz, who had just texted him after landing in Fort Lauderdale.  “He was excited about the meetings they were attending.  He was inspired by his children.” “We were supposed to meet with him but he had to fly to Los Angeles,” said Margarita Argente, PNews marketing director. “Their next road show after that was in the Miami area.” Argente said she could not believe the fate of her new associates. “I’m so sad for them and their families.  They were so young, so full of promise.” Services for Ortiz were scheduled this week. - Philippine News