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Accident Witness Eases Family's Pain

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By MIKE WELLS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

Updated: 02/09/2008 12:16 am

TAMPA - Haunted by images of a fatal crash he saw Wednesday night, a Tampa businessman is offering to help pay for the funeral of a young mother he saw lifeless in her car.

Keith Johnson said he wants to relieve Monica DeMarco's family of the burden of the expense, and perhaps ease his own heavy heart.

DeMarco, 18, had no life insurance, and her family told the Tribune they worried about how they were going to pay for a funeral.

She leaves behind her husband, Salvatore DeMarco, 20, and a daughter, Harmony, whose first birthday was Wednesday, relatives said. Monica DeMarco was raised in foster homes, didn't have a high school diploma and was employed at a gas station, they said.

Johnson, who has four young daughters, is general manager of the Bob Wilson Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealership in North Tampa. When he learned of DeMarco's background, he felt obligated to help her family, he said.

He met with DeMarco's family to determine the funeral expenses, which came to $10,400, he said. As of late Friday, he had managed to raise $8,000.

Services are being handled through Serenity Meadows in Riverview, Johnson said. A date for the funeral is pending.

A bake sale today and Sunday at First Choice Haircutters, 909 E Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon, will benefit the family, family friend Julia Wicker said.

Wicker said local businesses are accepting donations for the family, including BuddyFreddy's restaurant, 134 S. Gornto Lake Road, Brandon; all First Choice Haircutters locations, and RaceTrac, 1110 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon.

Other residents and organizations have come forward to offer assistance, relatives said. One woman offered a burial plot. A florist donated a casket spray arrangement. A church has offered the assistance of its ministry.

Shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday, Johnson drove out of a Hess gas station parking lot and was headed east on Lumsden Road about six car lengths behind a Ford Explorer, he said.

He watched with horror as the Ford slammed into DeMarco's Toyota Corolla as she turned left off Heather Lakes Boulevard to go west on Lumsden.

The driver of the Ford was Eric Crossen, 36, of Brandon, the Hillsborough sheriff's office said. He was in serious condition when he was rushed to Tampa General Hospital; he has been released, officials said.

"He did not have a chance to stop at all," Johnson said. "It was instant." No one has been charged.

Johnson stopped his car and walked up to the crash to see whether he could help.

"I saw the gentleman moving in the Explorer," he said. "I started to walk up to the Toyota, and I got an eerie feeling. It was very scary."
DeMarco was hunched up on the Toyota's front passenger seat, he said. She was in a twisted position that allowed Johnson to see her stomach, and he saw that she was not breathing.

"I don't believe she had on a seat belt," Johnson said.

Johnson watched the woman's in-laws arrive and saw the look of disbelief on their faces, he said. He remained at the crash site until DeMarco's body was taken by a team from the medical examiner's office.

"I felt like I couldn't leave," he said. "I'm haunted by this."

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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