Investigation continues in Amarillo accident

By Erin Brodbeck
Collegian Editor
September 12, 2007

Steven Amarillo, 21, a junior from Poughkeepsie, NY, was killed just after 1 a.m. Sept. 2, after being hit by a taxi cab on the 4800 block of Ridge Avenue in East Falls. The death of the information technology major who lived in Manayunk came after last year’s loss of two students enrolled at La Salle in addition to two former students.

According to police, there is no evidence at the time to suggest that Amarillo was drinking and the cab driver has not been charged.

Police said Amarillo was hit after darting out onto Ridge Avenue between two parked cars. Sgt. Larry Ritchie of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Accident Investigation Division told Collegian Sept. 10 that no further developments had been made, and toxicology reports would not be in for up to three months. Rumors circulated campus that the accident had been a hit-and run and the driver spent time in jail.

Amarillo was the only child of Armando Amarillo and Teresa Builes. While Amarillo’s family and friends wait for more information about the accident, they remember an intelligent, fun-loving young man with a bright future ahead of him.

Amarillo was a member of the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon, and had been a coxswain on the crew team in November 2007, according to the Daily News.

“I am very much saddened by Steven’s passing,” Dean of Students Dr. Joseph J. Cicala said. “The many contacts I’ve had over the past week or so, with Steven’s parents, other family members and friends deepen that sadness.”

A viewing was Sept. 6 at Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc. in Poughkeepsie, and the funeral took place the following day at St. Martin De Porres Church, also in Poughkeepsie. For students who were not able to make the trip to New York, an opportunity to remember the former student is being planned by Cicala and others.

“His family, several of his friends and I have spoken about an on-campus memorial service, and I anticipate that information about that will be forthcoming soon,” Cicala said.

The Sept. 2 mass at La Salle was held in Amarillo’s honor.

Cicala encouraged any interested students to contact him if they would like to be involved with planning the service. Students who would like to speak with someone for emotional support are also urged to get in touch with Cicala, University Ministry and Service or the Student Counseling Center.

brodbecke1@lasalle.edu