Friends remember UT student fatally injured in hit-run crash

Erik Nicoletti's favorite quote exemplified the University of Tampa junior's heart, outgoing personality and optimism:

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace."

Nicoletti, 20, wanted a tattoo of the quote from rock legend Jimi Hendrix but never got the chance. He died this afternoon, two days after he and friend Cree Alisha Riley, 19, were crossing a street near the university when a motorist struck them then drove away.

To remember Nicoletti, several of his friends got tattoos today of Hendrix's quote. Friend Mike Torti had it placed underneath his right ribcage with Nicoletti's initials, EVN, below it.

"He was going to do that," Torti said of Nicoletti's planned tattoo. "So we decided we would do it for him."

Today was a day of remembering. Between 200 and 300 University of Tampa students gathered at a courtyard this evening for a vigil for Nicoletti.

They had three tables with candles, flowers and photos of Nicoletti by himself and with classmates. Students lit candles and a moment of silence was held, then the candles were blown out simultaneously.

Nicoletti's parents, Jose and Dorothy Nicoletti were there, along with their daughter, Julie, 14.

Jose Nicoletti said the family is "very, very angry."

"It's a horrible experience for any parent," Jose Nicoletti said. "It's the last thing you want to see."

But they were moved by the students who came out and the showing of support they received. After the candle vigil, students marched to the corner of North Boulevard and Kennedy Boulevard to place flowers near the site where the accident happened Saturday.

"We are overwhelmed and heartwarmed to see that," Jose Nicoletti said. "It gives us encouragement. We know he will be remembered."

"We are glad for all the support the community has shown us," said Jose Nicoletti, who resides in Westchester, NY.

He said the family is "very glad" that an arrest was made in the case.

He said his son was a film major who wanted to pursue a career in the industry. He enjoyed watching and analyzing films and became a film buff like his mother, Jose Nicoletti said.

He described his son as kind, patient, lovable, affectionate and caring. He said he'll remember throwing the baseball with his son and going fishing.

The university said it will hold a memorial service for Erik Nicoletti at a later date.

Nicoletti was on life support for much of today because his family planned to donate his organs, Torti said. Tampa General Hospital doctors took Nicoletti off life support late this afternoon.

Riley, who was visiting from out of town, suffered a broken jaw, hip and legs, her mother Linda Gordon said at a news conference today.

"Her whole right side is broken," Gordon said. "She's hanging in there. She's tough."

A candlelight vigil for the victims starts at 8:30 p.m. in the Vaughn Center courtyard on campus.

The charges against driver Andres Trujillo, 27, are expected to be upgraded from leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury to leaving the scene of a crash involving death, prosecutors said.

Police say Trujillo was driving a 1993 beige Chrysler New Yorker that hit Nicoletti and Riley about 1:15 a.m. Saturday as they crossed West Kennedy Boulevard, just west of North Boulevard.

Nicoletti, Riley and other friends had gone to the Metro Food Mart at that intersection and were returning to campus when the crash happened, friend Kelsie Cubit said. Police say they are still investigating whether they were in the road or on the sidewalk when they were hit.

Cubit said she had crossed the street seconds before she heard the impact.

"I thought the car hit a box," she said. "There was no screams; no screeches. By the time I ran to my friends, the car was gone. It was like being in a movie."

Trujillo turned himself in to detectives Sunday evening. He was denied bail at his first appearance hearing this morning by Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Gregory Holder.

An hour after Nicoletti and Riley were hit, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office found Trujillo's abandoned car in a ravine at Lambright Street and Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa police Lt. Jack Diaz said.

Detectives impounded the car, which had front-end damage and a broken, caved-in windshield. There was blood and hair on the exterior front end of the vehicle, according to Tampa police.

Cubit said the pair was on the sidewalk when they were struck, but detectives are still sorting out exactly what happened.

Trujillo told investigators he dropped a cigarette inside his car and went to pick it up, Diaz said.

Then Trujillo realized he had hit something, Diaz said.

Thinking he had struck a small vehicle or motorcycle, Trujillo panicked and drove off, Diaz said. He says he was driving at the posted 30 mph speed limit and he told detectives that he had not been drinking, Diaz said.

Records show police have arrested Trujillo in the past for disorderly intoxication, robbery and driving while his license was canceled, suspended or revoked.

He was sentenced in 2007 to one year and a day in prison for battery on a law enforcement officer, records show.

Nicoletti's death is the second heartbreak this year for the UT community. In August, senior Ryan McCall, a cross country runner, was shot and killed by a mugger near campus on his way home. The case remains unsolved.

Grief counselors were made available for students and an e-mail informing the community of Nicoletti's death was sent out today.

Souza said she, Nicoletti and several other students were working on class projects about crime in the areas surrounding campus and - ironically - pedestrian safety.

Torti, who was with the fellow communications major hours before the crash, said Nicoletti was always popular.

"He was very outgoing, very funny," Torti said. "Everybody loved him to death. He never had any enemies. He always got the girl."