Tragic accident of Alina Palla Acosta
Alina Palla Acosta, 27, died in a bizarre accident on Wednesday, February 19, while rollerblading in Pompano Beach.
According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Acosta was rollerblading down a multipurpose path along the 600 block of Northeast 10th Street. The driver of a speeding silver Nissan lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree nearby a little after 5 PM. Detectives who worked the scene said the car was going so fast, it split in two, sending flying debris everywhere. Sadly, a piece of debris hit Acosta, pinning her to a pole. She was later pronounced dead.
The driver, 25-year-old Endail Thomas, and a passenger of the Nissan were taken to a local hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
Residents of the area say speeding is a major problem and they wish more could be done to address it.
Some even say they’re reconsidering their use of the trail.
“I rollerblade here all the time. That’s really scary, especially with my dog,” said area resident Brooke Kosher. “I would say I wouldn’t be as fast to react.”
“She was such a great person. She didn’t deserve this,” said Acosta’s longtime friend Daniela Del Ciampo.
Acosta’s friends and family have set up a GoFundMe to raise money to send her body home to Brazil.
