Miami DJ Back on the Air After Boating Death

[Bobcat]

I've never seen people trying to push a stuck boat from behind while the engines were running....especially multiple engines wide open.



http://miami.cbslocal.com/latest-videos?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=10128203


MIAMI (CBSMiami) – It was a day of celebration at Hits 97.3 radio Monday morning as veteran radio personality DJ Laz debuted his all new morning show, DJ Laz in the morning with co-host Kimmy B at his side.
“It’s difficult not to have chemistry with this guy,” said Kimmy Bell, also known as Kimmy B. “Were both basically born and raised here so we hit it off instantly and all powers that be said wow.”
Wow is exactly what DJ Laz said after Monday morning’s first show.
Watch the report, click here.
“I’m not good at certain things. Running a marathon isn’t one of the things I am good at,” Laz told CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo. “Radio, I’m good at. It’s my passion and for me there’s no better place to be than radio. The welcome home has been overwhelming.”
For 22 years, DJ Laz, whose real name is Lazaro Mendez, was the voice of Power 96 in the morning until 2012 when he left for the bright lights of Hollywood—a gig that did not workout.
“I’m a Miami boy. LA was nice and I would kick myself in the behind If I didn’t try it and wonder ‘what-if,’ so I tried it. I tried it and it didn’t work. It’s not about when you fall, it’s about how you get back up. I think I’ve gotten up pretty good,” Laz said.
It’s been a tough couple of months for the 43-year-old DJ who was involved in a tragic accident last May. He was at the helm of a boat that fatally slashed a young man who was trying to help free it from a sandbar. In litigation now, Laz cannot discuss specifics about the accident but did reflect on that horrible day.
READ: Popular South Florida Radio DJ Involved In Deadly Boating Accident
“At the end of the day it’s the worst possible thing that could ever happen,” said DJ Laz. “I’m a Dad, I’m a brother and my heart goes out to the family and I wish I can speak to the family. I did reach out but now with attorneys involved and litigation nothing can be said but it is the worst thing that’s ever happened so far.”
Laz said the idea of coming back to the radio, back to his listeners, is what has pulled him through the tough time. It’s a job he loves and does not take for granted.
“Thank God I’ve been fortunate all these years to be able to connect and I’m back in Miami, the city I love—this is it, I’m smarter” he said. “When you go through things in life, you see whose there for real whose there for fluff. You realize whose there for the day to day grind. It puts your life in perspective. You learn.”
The DJ LAZ Morning Show is on weekday mornings on Hits 97.3 weekday mornings from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.

 

[Bobcat]

Original Story.

KEY BISCAYNE (CBSMiami) – A popular South Florida radio personality was behind the wheel of a boat involved in a deadly accident over the weekend in Key Biscayne.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed that Lazaro Mendez, know to his fans as DJ Laz, is the owner of the 40 foot vessel dubbed “Off The Air” and was operating it at the time of the accident. DJ Laz said he said he named the boat in a self-deprecating reference to his losing his job as the morning host on Power 96 after 22 years and later being let go by 106.7 FM.
On Sunday, several people were helping to push the boat off the sandbar at Nixon Beach when 23-year old Ernesto Hernandez pitched in to help.
Hernandez’s family said it’s not surprising he would volunteer to lend a hand.
“He’s just a very giving person,” said Hernandez’s cousin Michael Gonzalez. “He had a heart of gold. Abig teddy bear is really what he was. He’s huge in size and his heart is just as big.”
Relatives said the man they called “Ernie” was a personal bodyguard who graduated from the police academy.
“The Hernandez family has had it’s brightest light unnecessarily extinguished before his time,” Gonzalez said.
The medical examiner listed his cause of death as “multiple chop wounds”.
Law enforcement boats were already gathered in the area off Nixon Beach to patrol the crowds Sunday when they rushed in to help Hernandez.
“The rescue pulled up next to us with a gentleman in real bad shape. He was covered up. They were pumping him,” said Frank Alonso, who was out boating.
“They put him in the rescue, the helicopter came and took off,” added Werner Velasquez.
Pino described Mendez as being distraught at the scene and “very sympathetic” to the family of the man who died.
On Monday, Mendez posted this statement on his Facebook and Twitter pages:
“I am incredibly distraught over the unfortunate accident that occurred yesterday at Nixon Beach. My family and I send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ernesto Hernandez; they are in our thoughts and prayers. I have and will continue to cooperate fully with investigators during this tragic time.” -Lazaro Mendez
Investigators are trying to determine exactly how the incident happened. Pino said Mendez has “cooperated fully” in the investigation.
“Our investigators are going to look at whether alcohol played a role, carelessness, recklessness. All those things will be looked into to see if we should press charges against the operator of the vessel,” said Pino.
Pino had told CBS4 News DJ Laz had provided a blood sample to allow investigators to check for drugs or alcohol in his system. Late Monday Pino reversed himself, saying there was no blood sample or breathalyzer taken of Lazaro Mendez, because there was no “probable cause,” evidence of impairment to justify it.
Pino says investigators observed “no blood shot eyes, slurred speech or unsteady movement” to suggest DJ Laz was impaired. Still, they called state attorney who said they couldn’t compel a blood or breath test without probable cause. They still asked him to give a voluntary breathalyzer and he refused.
The victim’s sister, Mildren Hernandez, was overcome with tears during a press conference Monday, but managed to make an emotional request to witnesses.
“If you have any information, please send it to us,” she said.
They hope pictures or video of the scene will help shed light on exactly what went wrong.

 

[Ratickle]

I'm a bit surprised hitting someone with a boat is not probable cause. :huh:

 

[Serious News]

DJ Laz Won't Face Criminal Charges Over Deadly Nixon Sandbar Boat Accident

Moments after a muscular 23-year-old named Ernesto Hernandez was sucked into his boat's propellers and killed off Key Biscayne, DJ Laz was interviewed by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer. Although the death occurred during a vodka-sponsored event at a notoriously drunken sandbar, the officer says Mendez showed no indication of "impairment due to alcohol or a controlled substance."

So says a close-out memo released by prosecutors this morning along with news that the famed radio personality won't face any criminal charges over Hernandez's death. Thirteen other witnesses backed up the FWCC officer's take, testifying under oath that Laz was sober and that the death was simply a tragic mistake.

"This is a tragedy, that is undeniable," Laz says in a statement. "But we appreciate the State Attorneys Office reviewing the clear evidence and not compounding the tragedy by filing criminal charges where non are warranted or appropriate. Though there are no winners here today, justice was served"

Hernandez's death came on May 4, 2014, at a boating party sponsored by Voli Vodka at Nixon Sandbar, a regular party-spot for weekend boaters just off Key Biscayne. The recent police academy graduate was among a crowd trying to push Laz's boat off the sandbar when he was sucked into the engines and killed.

The prosecutor's decision that Laz isn't criminally liable for the death comes after a year-long investigation that involved interviews with dozens of witnesses and bystanders. Although many told conflicting tales, the memo makes it clear they were almost all consistent on one point: Laz wasn't drinking while piloting his boat.

The 13 witnesses who told prosecutors he was only drinking non-alcoholic beverages all came from Laz's boat; all the witnesses from Hernandez's boat testified that they did see him drinking something, but couldn't tell what it was. The only outlier was one witness from Hernandez's boat who told prosecutors she was certain she'd seen alcohol in Laz's hand, but in her first interviews with police, she didn't mention seeing any booze.

Add it up? "There was insufficient evidence to prove that he was under the influence of alcohol," prosecutors write.

Prosecutors also heard conflicting stories about whether Laz or his crew warned Hernandez and the other men in the water that the engines were about to rev. Laz's witnesses all say warnings were yelled, while Hernandez's associates say there weren't. But prosecutors found video evidence supporting Laz's version of events.

Laz already settled a civil lawsuit from Hernandez's family out of court; a separate suit against Voli Vodka remains open. New Times call to Hernandez's family's attorneys hasn't been returned this morning.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/d...er-deadly-nixon-sandbar-boat-accident-7580076

 

[Serious News]

Victim’s Mother Reacts To Charges Dropped Against DJ Laz

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The mother of 23-year-old Ernesto Hernandez is preparing to face the first anniversary of his death in a boating accident.

“My life is destroyed. My daughters. My whole family. We don’t have a life anymore. Nothing to be happy because we’re missing Ernesto,” Maricel Valdez told CBS4’s Natalia Zea.

CLICK HERE To Watch Natalia Zea’s Report

The family is very upset now that they have learned the man behind the controls of the boat that killed him, Lazaro Mendez, better known as Miami radio host DJ Laz, will not face criminal charges for it.

“I’m really disappointed. I don’t believe it until now. They have to be guilty because the way he’s running the boat. I don’t agree at all. I’m really disappointed,” said Valdez.

DJ Laz was at the controls of his boat, when a group of people tried to push him off the Nixon Beach sandbar in Key Biscayne.

Hernandez was sucked under the boat and suffered deadly injuries, cut by the boat’s propellers.

Prosecutors found Thursday that there was not enough evidence to prove Mendez was criminally liable for the death.

The case closeout memo reads in part, “There is insufficient evidence to prove that (Mendez) was under the influence of alcohol to the extent that his faculties were impaired.

“There are 13 witnesses who were on Lazaro Mendez’s boat who saw him consuming a beverage. Every one of them says that he was drinking a non-alcoholic drink.”

And it’s not clear whether Laz warned Ernesto and the others pushing the boat that he was starting the engines.

The state attorney memo reads, “There is a conflict in testimony about whether or not the persons pushing the vessel were given a warning that the engines would be engaged.”

Shortly after learning the charges were dropped, Laz posted a message on his Facebook page reading, “My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the Hernandez family as they continue to heal from the loss of Ernesto from the sad tragic day.”

His attorney, Mycki Ratzan, added in a statement, “This is a tragedy, that is undeniable, but we appreciate the State Attorney’s Office reviewing the clear evidence and not compounding the tragedy by filing criminal charges where non are warranted or appropriate. Though there are no winners here today, justice was served.”

But DJ Laz will still have to face a judge.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gave him a civil citation Friday for careless operation of a boat resulting in death. He will pay up to $1,000 fine and will be required to appear in court.

That does little comfort Valdez.

“That’s no pain. To take a ticket and go to court. It’s nothing for me, at all.”

The Hernandez family is suing DJ Laz for wrongful death. The next hearing is set for April 30th in that case.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/04/24/victims-mother-reacts-to-charges-dropped-against-dj-laz/