Michael Carico II (1963

"Victim leaves family behind"

Bradenton, Fla- Michael D. Carico II
had plans for Thanksgiving dinner with his family, then a camping trip with his son. But in a split second everything changed. Carico and a friend left work Wednesday and were driving to mall to pick up a turkey fryer. A vehicle driven by a young woman ran through a red light slammed into their car, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, causing Carico's life to end.
The accident occured at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Third Street West around 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Carico, who had just turned 39, was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg where he died. He had been a passenger in a vehicle driven by Louis Vasquez Jr. 36, who suffered minor injuries.
Troopers charged the driver of the other car, Sarah Fernandes, 19, with running a red light. She was taken to the hospital and released. Fernandes faced a mandatory court date Dec. 23 in Manatee County. Trooper Gerry Smith of the Florida Highwat Patrol told the Herald on Friday that information about the crash has been forwarded to the homicide investigators.
When Carico's parents got the word that their son had been flown to the hospital, they immediately called, said Michael Carico Sr., after whom his son is named. A nurse told them they needed to get to the hospital right away. The worst news greeted the Caricos upon arrival. Doctors had pronounced their son dead at 6:15 p.m.
"You can't believe the pain to walk in the hospital and see your son dead," Carico said. " He was already gone when we got there."
On Friday, the family remained stunned and grief stricken. Michael Carico II's mother, Carol, said she doubts anything will ever be the same- even in the neigborhood because her son and his family lived next door. "He was a good family man, a good son, and a good brother", Carol Carico said. "He was always helping people. That's what he was doing when he was killed".
Carico leaves behind a wife, Angie, and three children, ages 6, 11, and 16. Born in Ohio, Carico moved to Manatee County with his family when he was 10 years old, his father said. He was a Supervisor at Pierce Manufacturing Co., a Bradenton company that makes firetrucks, and formerly served as a firefighter in Samoset for three years.
His remains will be cremated and a memorial service will be held next week so all the family can be there, family members said. The family plans to release Carico's ashes into the Manatee River because, an avid fisherman, the river was his favorite spot, his mother added.