Friends of killed motorcyclist hold fundraiser

Friends of a motorcyclist killed in a collision with a Minneapolis police vehicle last week held a fundraiser Thursday evening to send his body back to Mexico.

Former roommates of Ivan Romero Olivares, 24, organized the fundraiser at a Mexican restaurant on Lake Street. One of them, Alyssa Roman, 23, is frustrated by what she says is a lack of transparency by police about the accident.

Minneapolis police say the squad car was traveling under 20 miles an hour when it ran a red light was hit by Romero Olivares on his motorcycle. Earlier this week, Police Chief Janee Harteau said the officer driving the squad car had not talked with investigators. Harteau says the squad car had its lights and sirens on as it drove through a red light at the intersection of 26th Street and Blaisdell Ave. S.

According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, Romero Olivares died instantly in the collision. A passenger on the motorcycle survived.

Roman said she is trying to set her anger aside.

"Because it's not doing anything. I think it'll only get us in trouble being angry. We can only do so much," Roman said. "I think doing as much positive as we can will benefit our friends and family the most in this situation."

Isaac Bucio Garcia says Romero Olivares was his best friend. He said the parents want their son's body back home. Garcia said all he can concentrate on now is fulfilling their request.