TAMPA, Fla. — We now know the identity of a 33-year-old Tampa man who died over the weekend in a fiery motorcycle crash on the Gandy Bridge.
Geane "La Pulga" Herrera, a former UFC and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship fighter, was killed when he crashed his motorcycle into the back of a Jeep, his family confirmed to 10 Tampa Bay. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said Herrera was going "at a very high rate of speed."
When he collided with the Jeep, Herrera's motorcycle went off the road and struck a concrete barrier. The impact sent Herrera and the bike back onto the roadway, where both tumbled hundreds of feet before stopping.
The motorcycle burst into flames.
Herrera died at the scene, according to troopers.
The Jeep's driver was not hurt.
Herrera leaves behind his 16-year-old son, pregnant girlfriend, parents, siblings and "a family that loves him and will deeply miss him," a family member said.
"Geane was a dedicated sportsman, a man full of passion, life, love and big dreams," she added. "The family is devastated by this tragic loss."
A GoFundMe made by Herrera's family says he was born in California before moving to Colombia with his family when he was a baby. When he was 9, his family moved back to the U.S. where he "fell in love" with boxing and pro fighting.
The page adds that Herrera was very proud of his Colombian-American roots and strived daily to represent his community.
"He won a few fights, lost some others but every time no matter what happened always had a positive outlook to life and his craft," the page said. The family explained an injury caused Herrera to stop fighting professionally.
But he continued to hustle to "make sure his kids and family was taken care of."
The family is raising money to pay for his funeral, which is set for Wednesday, May 22, in Tampa. You can find more information about the celebration of life here.
"Our family is incredibly grateful for all the prayers, kind words, and support from everyone during this hard time," the family said in a statement.
10 Tampa Bay's Andrea Chu contributed to this report.