West Park Prep principal dies after being struck by car

WEST PARK — A memorial of flowers and stuffed animals was taking shape Friday in front of a Broward prep school to honor its principal who died a day earlier.

Jovan Rembert, 43, the principal and CEO of West Park Preparatory School, was crossing a West Park street to check on people involved in a fender bender when he was struck by a car.

It happened about 2:30 p.m. on Hallandale Beach Boulevard and Southwest 40th Avenue, just a few blocks from the school Rembert headed.

He died at the scene, investigators said.

“He was a great member of our community,” said West Park City Commissioner Felicia Brunson. “He was a prominent advocate and passionate about serving the community and feeding the homeless. A huge loss to the community.”

On Friday, the Broward Sheriff’s Office identified Diego Armando Lopez Zepeda, 19, of North Lauderdale, as the driver of the 2016 Dodge Charger that struck Rembert.

Initially, Zepeda drove around the block and then returned to the crash scene, the sheriff ’s office said.

Rembert was previously the principal of West Park High School.

Johnethia Mack, of West Park, said she was not related to Rembert by blood, but that he was like a brother to her.

“He was a giver. He gave, gave, gave, gave … Kids that didn’t have school uniforms or anything, he would go personally and buy them,” Mack said.

“I want people to know that Jevon’s heart was right and that there’s a song that we sing in church, it says ‘may the work that I’ve done speak for me,’ and Jevon’s work speaks for him. He’s touched a community.”

There will be a memorial for Rembert on Thursday, March 12 at 5 p.m. at West Park Preparatory School, located at 2201 SW 42nd Ave. Hollywood, FL 33023.

The incident remains under investigation by the sheriff ’s office.

Rembert