Student killed after street fight in Ybor City
A USF student dazed during a street fight was killed after being strucktwice by a car trying to flee the scene, police said.
Travis Wright, 27, an engineering major and a rugby player, was crouchedon an Ybor City street early Friday when he was clipped by the vehicle,said John Trim, a witness and friend of Wright.
Construction blocked the street so the driver slammed the car inreverse, hitting Wright again and dragging him about 10 feet, Trim said.Wright was pronounced dead at Tampa General Hospital following theincident.
Authorities said the driver fled the scene but turned himself inSaturday.
Juan Martinez, 22, was charged with vehicular homicide, leaving thescene of an accident and driving with a suspended license, police said.
The altercation began as Wright and his friends were leaving a club andsaw a group of youths hassling some girls, investigators said. Wrightand his friends told the group to leave the girls alone. Two othersstepped in and a fight broke out.
Meanwhile, the ones who started the fight tried to leave by car whenthey realized the street was blocked, Tampa Police Detective David Puigsaid.
As the driver sped away, one of the rugby players hurled a 5-gallonbucket at the car and shattered the windshield, said teammate NickKessler.
?It?s an unbelievable thing,? said Wright?s father, Dean Wright ofValrico, near Brandon. ?I?m angry that I don?t have a son anymore.?
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