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Funeral Set For Motorist Who Died Helping Others

Family provided photo of Amir Sarhaddi, 29

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By NICOLA M. WHITE and JOSH POLTILOVE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2007

Updated: 10/30/2007 08:10 am

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BRANDON - Amir Sarhaddi couldn't just drive past the overturned Jeep and the smashed car.

It was not in his nature, friends said. When he saw the wreck early Sunday morning, he pulled his pickup into the emergency lane of southbound Interstate 75 and got out to help.

In doing so, the 29-year-old father of two became a victim himself.

Another driver who didn't see the wreck skidded into one of the smashed vehicles, veered to the left and hit Sarhaddi, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Amir Sarhaddi with his wife, Stacey

Sarhaddi, of Kempton Vista Drive in Riverview, died on the highway. His wife, Stacey, was in the pickup.

"He was a sole supporter of his wife and children, and now he's gone," friend Georgette Deininger said.

"This was a great tragedy. He was a dear friend, father, husband and business partner."

Funeral services will take place Friday at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4207 E. Lake Ave. in Tampa, according to the cemetery.

The family also has set up an information line. People who want to know about Sarhaddi's funeral arrangements or where to send contributions can call (813) 387-1056.

Charges are pending the outcome of the highway patrol's investigation. The drivers involved are being tested for impairment, Sgt. Rick Glover said.

Authorities say the wreck unfolded like this:

Shortly after 3 a.m., just north of the Gibsonton Drive exit, James S. Braley, 36, of Riverview, failed to notice the Jeep in front of him slow down.

His Infiniti hit the Jeep, flipping it over on the grass shoulder and into a tree.

Braley's Infiniti spun and blocked the right and right-center lanes, according to a highway patrol report.

Sarhaddi pulled his Dodge pickup onto the shoulder to help, as did another driver.

That's when a Saturn being driven by Jessica L. Paquette, 23, of Riverview, crashed into the Infiniti, hit Sarhaddi and struck the truck of the other driver who'd stopped to help.

Braley and the Jeep's driver, Perets E. Nisim, suffered minor injuries, and Paquette wasn't injured, the patrol said. The other driver who stopped, Jared Cason, 19, of North Port, also wasn't injured.

Shayla Sarhaddi said Monday that her brother Amir used to make everyone laugh and never hesitated to help people in need. The Hillsborough High School graduate loved watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played soccer when he was younger, she said.

His business partner, Gregg Alexander of St. Petersburg, remembered him as a laid-back but hard worker who loved good audio equipment and playing Xbox video games with his 11-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son.

The descendant of Persian immigrants grew up in Tampa.

Alexander and Sarhaddi ran a telecommunications business, One World Communications, that designed and installed voice over Internet protocol technology for telephone and computer systems.

The pair had been in business for two years and had become friends.

'I'm hyper-antsy and jumpy. He's really laid-back. He took a little more relaxed approach,' Alexander said.

'I'm crushed. All I keep thinking about is his wife and kids.'

The partners were supposed to go to Ybor City's Guavaween celebration together Saturday night, but Alexander canceled after his girlfriend became ill.

He said he wasn't sure whether Sarhaddi and his wife were driving home from Ybor City when the accident occurred.

'He was just the ultimate in just talking to people,' Alexander said.

'He'd sweeten everything up and make everybody feel good.

'I couldn't have asked for a better partner or friend to go into business with.'

Reporter Jason Geary contributed to this report. Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at nwhite1@tampatrib.com or (813) 779-4613. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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