Alonzo Mourning in accident lawsuit

MIAMI, July 21 (UPI) -- A lawsuit filed against former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning claims he left the scene of a car crash too soon, leaving a crash victim disabled and disfigured.

Mourning and the Florida Highway Patrol both say after Mourning crashed his Porsche into the side of a disabled car in Miami Beach early Sunday. He stopped to check on an accident victim before going home, calling police and then returning to the scene.

A suit filed Wednesday by Miami college student William Candelario, 21, claims Mourning acted negligently by failing to assist him, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

"This is not a witch hunt," Candelario's lawyer said in announcing the suit.

"We know that Alonzo Mourning is a respected and well-loved member of the community," attorney Spencer Aronfeld said.

"But we have questions. One is why did Mr. Mourning leave the scene of this accident? How and why did he leave the scene of the accident without calling fire-rescue or calling the police?"

Mourning has not been charged in the collision, and the highway patrol said an investigation was ongoing.

"I am now waiting for the police to finish their investigation, and happy they are conducting a thorough one," Mourning said.

"There's so much speculation going on out there," he said. "It's very unfair to me. The truth will come out as we continue to gather all the facts and I speak to authorities."