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Teen Suffers Severe Head Injuries In Hit And Run, Remains In Coma

November 14, 2005

While a teenage crash victim remained in a coma, his Cape Coral family kept a bedside vigil and prayed he regains consciousness.

Casey Minervini, 14, suffered broken bones and severe head injuries in hit-and-run crash, his father said. Doctors aren't sure how bad the brain damage is yet. 'He hasn't regained consciousness since the accident,' said Joe Minervini, a detective with the state fire marshal's office. 'We're just taking it day by day.'

Police charged a Cape Coral man with leaving the accident scene and tampering with evidence. Suspect David Torres, 22, told police he ran the red light at Santa Barbara Boulevard and Southeast 21st Street. He said he accidentally struck Casey, who was walking on the crosswalk at about 6:30 a.m., then panicked and kept driving, according to the arrest report. Police say Torres later went to a junkyard and found replacements for the headlight lenses and right turn signal on his 1992 Plymouth Acclaim. During the police interview, Torres broke down and cried and said he'd wanted to get caught for what he did, according to the report.

Torres' family wouldn't comment. Meanwhile, friends of the Minervini family have started a trust fund to help pay for the cost of Casey's medical treatment. 'Even with good insurance, the expenses are going to be enormous,' family friend Eileen Quinlan said. 'This can be financially devastating for a family.' Friends and family described Casey as a vital, intelligent boy who just started playing football for Cape Coral High School. He played his first game shortly before the accident.