High school math teacher killed in crash with police cruiser that injured two cops
The man killed when his car crashed into a police cruiser at a Hialeah intersection Tuesday night was a teacher at one of the more popular and highly respected art and design high schools in South Florida.
Orestes Amador Jr., 51, taught mathematics at Design & Architecture Senior High — more popularly known as DASH — a magnet school that focuses on industrial and fashion design and architecture in the heart of Miami’s Design District.
Amador was killed at about 7 p.m. when the Volkswagen Passat he was driving collided with a Hialeah patrol car carrying police officers Ernesto Del Valle and Daniel Garcia-Muniz. The crash occurred at the intersection of East Fifth Avenue and Hialeah Drive in Hialeah.
The officers were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition. Amador was killed at the crash site.
Police have released few details about the incident, only saying that it’s an open investigation and that an investigator with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office was at the scene.
Amador was the sole occupant of the Passat.
Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, in a tweet Wednesday, said the news was “a painful way” to begin the new year.
Painful way to start the year receiving news that one of our esteemed teachers lost his life in a terrible car accident. Prayers for those who loved him, including his @DASHphantoms family.
— Alberto M. Carvalho (@MiamiSup) January 3, 2018
The Hialeah Police Department also noted the loss.
“The City of Hialeah Police Department extends its deepest heartfelt condolences to all those affected by last night’s unfortunate crash, which claimed the life of a 51-year-old man and injured two Hialeah police officers.”
Word of Amador Jr’s death spread quickly at the small, close-knit high school that has only about 500 students. News of the math teacher’s death was shared on the school’s Alumni Facebook page.
“He was awesome! So sad,’’ wrote Lucion and Sara Telfort, who both had him for a teacher.
“Oh god … rest in peace Mr. Amador,’’ posted Samantha Ames.
A Miami-Dade Public Schools spokesman said crisis counselors will be available for students on Monday.
Miami Herald Staff Writer Carli Teproff contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 3, 2018 at 12:37 PM with the headline "High school math teacher killed in crash with police cruiser that injured two cops."