Fernand Amandi show canceled by WIOD radio Truck driver charged in crash that killed two

Citing cost-cutting measures, WIOD610-AM has canceled Fernand R. Amandi’s talk show, according to a statement the radio personality released on Twitter.

His show aired midmorning weekdays from the iHeart Media-owned station in Miramar. Amandi said iHeart officials informed him that theMay 19 broadcast was his last.

“While I’m disappointed I won’t be able to continue the lively town hall style conversations we first began in late 2014, I amgrateful for theopportunity given to me by WIOD program director Grace Blazer, the team at iHeartRadio and listeners across South Florida and throughout the country,” he stated. “Hosting this show and listening to the hopes, and fears, the stories and passion of our listeners will always be among the most rewarding honors ofmy life, and Iwill miss all of you every day.”

In Amandi’s place this week, WIOD has had David Bloomquist, known as Bloomdaddy, a talk showhost fromWest Virginia.

WIOD program director Grace Blazer did not comment on the show’s cancellation. “We will be announcing a new show soon,” she said.

Since taking over the the 10 a.m. to noon time slot in February 2016, Amandi, a Miami-based pollster, talked about local and national politics and South Florida news with listeners from Palm Beach to Monroe counties. He had been a guest host for Rick Sanchez, who departed the station at the end of December 2016. Fernand R. Amandi

Amandi declined to comment beyond his statement.

During his time on the air, Amandi raised his public profile with his show, which used the catchphrase “Just follow the money,” from the Watergate movie, “All the President’s Men.” The show became known as a sometimesdivisiveforum for listeners to debate presidential politics.

One weekly segment called“DVR”(Democrats vs. Republicans) had a member from each party take turns debating a topic. Amandi, who is a self-proclaimed Democrat, was known to cue the “Jaws” movie theme when the discussion turned to President Donald Trump.

Amandi also engaged with local community leaders as well as reporters and columnists from the local press.

The showhad a lighter side, too. OnWednesdays, Amandi and hiswife, Chenell, hosted a segment called “She Said, He Said,” where the couple bantered about a personal issue — whether to adopt a dog for their youngchildren, for example, or whether their kids should attend a private preschool.

Amandi has a full-time job as a partner in Bendixen & Amandi International, the Miamibased firm that conducts public opinion research and focus groups. He also frequently appears on MSNBC as a guest of JoyAnn Reid’s weekend show.

Amandi, a CubanAmerican and graduate of Florida State University, has been a fan of radio since he was a kid. He tuned into Spanishlanguage talk radio that played in his childhood homes in Coral Springs, Boca Raton and MiamiDade County. Amandi listened to sports talk radio hostsHank Goldberg and the late Neil Rogers, who once had the 10 a.m. time slot at WIOD that Amandi eventually took over.

An unsecured load of concrete barriers and a flatbed truck driver’s improper turn onto Interstate 75 caused the 2015 chainreaction crashes that killed a Miramar teenager and amedical student, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The Broward state attorney’s office charged truck driver Juan Calero, 45, of Hialeah, with causing the deaths of Liza Angulo, 17, a graduate ofAmericanHeritageHigh School in Plantation headed to the University of Miami on a scholarship, and Jonathan Raymond Astaphan, 29, whowas in his third year of medical school andwas to begin clinical studies inNewYork.

Investigators took nearly two years to build their case before arresting Calero onTuesday.

The May 28 chain reaction began about 11:30 p.m. near the southbound I-75 Pembroke Pinesexit, wheretherewasconstructionwork in the median.

Thearea did nothave awarning sign or utility poles to light the highway. Investigators say Calero impeded traffic by driving a 1993 Freightliner flatbed tractor trailer west across four lanes, according to an arrest warrant.

Astaphan, who was driving a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer, collided with the flatbed with such force that the two vehicles traveled about a quarter-mile south along the highway and the Mitsubishi’s roof was sheared off, the highway patrol said at the time.

Angulo, driving her mother’s 2013 BMW 328i, swerved to avoid the flatbedandhit its right rear side. Some unsecured concrete barriers fell fromthe truck onto her car, killing her, the highway patrol said.

After those collisions, the concrete barriers were scattered across travel lanes. Truck driver Eduardo HernandezRodriguez struck them and then hit Calero’s flatbed, according to thewarrant.

Calero’s actions caused Astaphan to drive beneath the flatbed and Angulo and Hernandez“were unable to avoid the crash,” the patrol said.

Astaphan and Angulo died at the scene. The truck drivers were not injured.

Paramedics took Astaphan’s passenger, Patrissia Rolle, then 25andliving inDavie, toMemorial Regional Hospital, where she was treated for injuries to her head and spine.

Calero is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury. Duringhismagistratehearing Wednesday before Judge Jill Levy, she ordered bonds totaling $150,000.

Calero’s lawyer, Richard Della Fera, called the crash “a tragic accident” and said his client cooperated with investigating officers at the time of the crash and allowed his blood to be drawn.

“He was found to have no alcohol or any controlled substances in his system when the accident occurred,” Della Fera said. “This was not an intentional act on the part of this defendant.”

If he is freed on bail before trial, Calero must wear a GPS monitor, cannot drive a commercial vehicle, take drugs or alcohol and must undergo random testing. Calero must also surrender his passport and may not apply for a new one.

Calero and multiple transportation entities involved in the crash are being sued in civil court by the families of Angulo and Astaphan. A trial in that case is scheduled for October in Broward County.

A civil lawsuit brought by Rolle was settled for an undisclosed amount. Rolle has returned to her home country of Dominica, her lawyer’s office said.