Hollywood, FL : Driver killed after a car crashed into a supermarket in Hollywood early Monday, March 14, 2016

Police are investigating after a car crashed into a supermarket in Hollywood, killing the driver and injuring the passenger, early Monday.

The crash happened at a Publix plaza along East Young Circle, just before 3 a.m. According to officials, David Lamour, the 24-year-old driver, was traveling westbound along Hollywood Boulevard, lost control of the vehicle, drove through some cones and smashed into the Publix storage room.

"Once it reached the curb, it appears it went straight and lost control of the vehicle," said Hollywood Police Lt. Osvaldo Perez. "As it went straight, it hit the curb and then it crashed into the east wall of the Publix."

Witnesses said the car went airborne before it struck the supermarket.

Lamour was ejected from the vehicle on impact and pronounced dead on the scene. Authorities said he was not wearing his seat belt.

The passenger, 19-year-old Roxana Villa, was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in unknown condition.

According to the passenger's family, Villa has several broken bones but is expected to be OK. Investigators said she was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash.

Villa's sister described her as a loving person. "She likes her nephews, she likes to play with them," said Villa's sister, Rosaura Duarte. "She's really good with family."

Villa's family said she had been dating Lamour for the past two years. He leaves behind a young son.

Neighbors nearby said this wasn't a first at the corner of that street. "I knew right away it was a car crash, I knew it," said Steven Scott, who lives nearby. "I've heard it so many times in the last 10 years, five, seven, eight, nine times, 10 times, at least, you now."

Lamour's car, a red Cadillac, was towed from the scene. Police spent over four hours on the scene investigating before crews cleaned up debris. "I think it's like an illusion, that you think you're going straight all this time, and now all of a sudden, right in the middle, there's a curb there," said area resident Joyce Newman, "and if you miss looking at it, you'll just think you can go straight."

Lamour made local news back in November 2013 when, as an employee at a Shell station in Miami Gardens, he helped police officers apprehend a man caught on surveillance cameras robbing the station's convenience store.

"I gave him the money, and he started taking the money out, [and I was] like, 'Oh, let me bag it for you,' you know what I'm saying?" Lamour told 7News at the time. "I started bagging it, and I said, 'You know what? You should double bag it." Just stalling, you know? Waiting for police to come."

Newman left a candle at the scene in remembrance of the tragedy. "Someone passed away now, and the other person is hurt," she said, "so just, if you believe in prayer, say a prayer for it because what else can you do?"

Hollywood Boulevard was shut down both east and westbound at Young Circle for several hours. All lanes have since reopened.

Police said it is too early to know how fast Lamour was going or whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Source :
Car crashes into Hollywood Publix; driver killed