|
New York City firefighter David Romero's life came to an end Friday after the "free spirit" and father of three was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle. Romero, 34, was headed home Friday night, riding his Suzuki just north of the George Washington Bridge, when a white Acura turned left in front of him to make an illegal U-turn, police said. Unable to stop, Romero struck the side of the car. He was taken to Lincoln Medical Center and pronounced dead on arrival. Driver Jennifer Avendado, 25, of New Rochelle, was issued a summons for disobeying pavement markings. Romero, a resident of Warwick, N.Y., had been with Ladder 48 in the Bronx neighborhood of Hunts Point for four years. "He was a free spirit. He always wanted to be a fireman. It was a childhood dream," said Taraine Ferguson, 28, the mother of his two oldest children, daughters ages 9 and 16. "He enjoyed every moment of it." "I loved him with all my heart," Ferguson said, in tears yesterday, holding a photograph of Romero. "I don't think he had an enemy in the world," Romero's sister Lizelle Rivera told WPIX-TV. He was "very fun, always joking around." "It's a shame. He was too young," said John Blake, a 17-year veteran of the force who worked alongside Romero. "From the nozzle to the roof, he did a great job," Blake said. "I would go into any fire with him. He was really dedicated." Blake said Romero was known for his good humor and his love of softball, which he played in a fire department league. He also was a dedicated fan of his 6-year-old son's Little League team. Friends said Romero was a "great dad" who spent as much time as he could with his son and daughters, often taking them to the park. Romero's parents, who work as Pentecostal ministers in Honduras, were scheduled to arrive in New York today. His brother, who flew in from California after hearing of the accident, was too upset yesterday to talk to reporters.
Copyright © 2005, Newsday, Inc
 |
