Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Man killed in hit-and-run crash was a ‘fighter,’ his family says
After his car was involved in a traffic crash about 10 days ago, Kinna Collander became a pedestrian, sometimes walking from his home in Oakland Park to a convenience store about a mile away.
He was heading there about 8:30 p.m. Friday when he was run down in the intersection of East Commercial Boulevard and Northeast Sixth Avenue. The driver fled the scene without stopping, according to Broward Sheriff’s deputies.
Collander was taken by Oakland Park Fire Rescue to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He was 28.
“He always said, ‘The world is out to get me,’ ” Kayla Smith said Sunday of her boyfriend. “But he always bounced back with a smile.”
Investigators said Collander was walking south across East Commercial Boulevard, in or near the crosswalk, when he was struck by a vehicle heading west on East Commercial.
Traffic homicide detectives said the suspect’s vehicle may be a light color and has damage to its front bumper, hood and windshield.
“He was such a good person, always helping others,” said Smith, 20, who lived with Collander. He worked for a delivery service, Smith said.
Chester Collander said his son was born in Texas and raised there and in the Tampa area. “He had a lot of turmoil in his life,” he said. “But he worked hard and cared about everybody.
“He had a very upbeat attitude. He was small, got picked on as a kid,” said Collander. “But he was a fighter.”
On a corner near the scene of the crash family members left flowers, a small stuffed animal and a message from one of Collander’s sisters. “Kinna,” the hand-written note said, “we will miss you every day and we won’t stop until your killer is brought to justice.” Services are pending. Investigators ask anyone with information to contact Detective Michael Kelliher at 954-321-4845, Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477, or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.