Miami Injury News

Fill out the form
to speak to an
Injury Lawyer Now.

Miami Man Killed In Wrong-way Collision

November 22, 2005

A Miami man looking to get away from the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma was killed in Pembroke Pines when a wrong-way driver hit him on U.S. 27, police said.

Rawlin Stovall of Miami decided he needed a break from post-hurricane South Florida and began driving to visit friends in North Florida. But Stovall, 70, never made it. A white pickup, driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes of U.S. 27 in Pembroke Pines, collided with Stovall's Cadillac about 3 a.m., police said. Stovall died at the scene. ''We're just completely devastated,'' said Pam Kirchner, who calls Stovall her stepfather. ``There's no explanation. There's nothing that can make us feel better.''

Gabriel A. Ceccarelli of Hollywood was driving south in the northbound lanes of U.S. 27 when he collided with the car, said Pembroke Pines police Cmdr. David Golt. Ceccarelli was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital, where he was described as being stable, police said.

Shortly before the accident, police received a call of a pickup driving recklessly in the wrong lanes of U.S. 27 at Griffin Road, Golt said. A Pembroke Pines police officer located the truck and began driving in the southbound lanes parallel to the vehicle, using lights and sirens to try and get the driver's attention, Golt said. ''We are looking into the fact that it may be an alcohol-related accident,'' Golt said. Charges may be pending, Golt said. According to court records, Ceccarelli has two previous arrests for driving under the influence.

On Dec. 30, 2002, he was cited in Pennsylvania for driving under the influence and careless driving. He was also cited in Pennsylvania in 2001 for driving under the influence, according to records. The disposition of those cases was not available.

Kirchner and Stovall met in a ballroom dancing class more than 20 years ago and she introduced him to her mother, Louella Atkinson. Atkinson and Stovall, who friends and family called Roy, have been companions ever since. ''Never in a million years did I think of him not being in my life,'' Kirchner said. Stovall, who never had children, was like a grandfather to Kirchner's son Mark and daughter Jessica, Kirchner said. Stovall, who spent time studying religion and the Bible, told Mark he would pray for him when he teed off in a state golf championship, Kirchner said. ''He talked to his pop last night and said when you tee off, I'm going to be praying for you, and I won't stop praying until that tournament's over,'' Kirchner said. ``He was dead at 8 o'clock.''