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News Articles gathered from the St Pete Times, and the Tampa Tribune.


Fiery accident kills mother, daughter
November 17, 1998 - St. Petersburg Times

TOWN 'N COUNTRY -- As the pastor asked congregants Sunday if they were ready to bid the world goodbye and "meet Jesus now," Cindy Rae Murakami turned to a friend and smiled....More


Mom, daughter killed in fiery minivan crash
November 17, 1998 - Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - A mother and daughter are killed in a fiery three-car accident on West Hillsborough Avenue. As the choir sang "Come to Jesus" Sunday night, Cindy Murakami's pastor threw down a challenge....More


Leads indicate racing led to traffic fatalities
November 19, 1998 - Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - Troopers are looking into new leads that suggest two cars may have been racing before a fatal accident Monday.....More


Mother, daughter remembered
November 21, 1998 - Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - Friends and family celebrate the lives of a giving mother and child who died Monday in a traffic accident.....More


Crash victims' families to rally for safer road
April 2, 1999 - Tampa Tribune

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - A rally to lower the speed limit and put in traffic signals along West Hillsborough Avenue will be Saturday.....More


Working fast to slow things down
July 15, 1999 - St. Petersburg Times

TAMPA -- As Cindy Murakami pulled out of a shopping center parking lot on W Hillsborough Avenue last November, her van collided with a car and burst into flames, killing her and her 11-year-old daughter Chelsea. Her husband thinks a stoplight would have saved them.....More


Speed cut, but no light on roadway
August 19, 1999 - Tampa Tribune

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Highway officials hope a slightly lower speed limit will make West Hillsborough Avenue safer for motorists.....More


Lower speed limit being enforced on Hillsborough Ave.
October 21, 1999 - Tampa Tribune

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Improvements to a stretch of the roadway include a new speed limit and beefed-up patrols.....More


Husband still seeks 'justice' in deaths
December 11, 1999 - Tampa Tribune

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - A year after his wife and daughter were killed in a fiery wreck on Hillsborough Avenue, Bruce Murakami pushes forward....More


In Memoriam of Cindy and Chelsea Murakami,
November 16th, 1999

Your presence here on earth is greatly missed by your family and friends, but we know that you two are in Heaven and in a much greater place. As a husband and father I thank the Lord for blessing me with his best when he gave me the most wonderful wife and loving daughter that any man could ask for. The boys and I cherish the wonderful memories that you two have placed in our hearts and know that someday we will be joined together once again as a family....forever!

We love and miss you both.
Bruce, Josh and Brody Murakami


Husband wants justice for fatal accident
September 28th, 2000 - Tampa Tribune

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Bruce Murakami says it's time for the state to conclude the investigation into the wreck that killed his wife and daughter.....More


In Memoriam of Cindy and Chelsea Murakami,
November 16th, 2000

Dear Cindy and Chelsea,

It has been two lonely years since the two of you went on to be with our Lord. What you have left behind are many wonderful memories that you both planted into the hearts of those you loved and touched.

Yes, the tears still flow freely and the pain of missing you both is still very real, but the boys and I know in our hearts that one day these tears will turn into tears of joy, and the pain will be no more as we meet in Heaven forever.

We love and miss you both, Bruce, Josh and Brody Murakami


Case closed, but not for grieving spouse
November 19th, 2000 - St. Petersburg Times

Two years after his wife and daughter died in their burning car, a man pursues the other driver in court. Bruce Murakami was pulling out of his leafy subdivision on Nov. 16, 1998, when he heard the bangs. He followed the foul, black smoke blotting the blue sky. A sickly premonition drew him to its source....More


Charges filed 2 1/2 years after fatal crash
June 21st, 2001 - St. Petersburg Times

A 21-year-old man is charged with vehicular homicide in the deaths of a mother and daughter in Hillsborough.....More


To my beloved wife Cindy and most precious daughter Chelsea,
November 16th, 2001

It has been three long and lonely years since you have gone to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. Much has taken place this past year, the newly elected State Attorney has arrested and charged the young man responsible for your deaths. Josh, our oldest son, has got married three months ago, Brody is planning to attend trade school early next year and our country suffered one of it's most devastating tragedies, but through it all you two are still the main focus of my life, yes you are no longer here in the flesh, but you two are always in my heart and thoughts, not a day, an hour or a moment goes by without some wonderful memory I have about our life together. I will press forward with diligence for justice in your deaths, I will watch over our son's with love and nurturing, and I do pray for our country and it's leaders, but most of all I look forward to joining you two in Heaven someday.

We all my love,
Bruce Murakami
A loving husband and father


Grief gives way to compassion
July 25th, 2002 - Tampa Tribune

Thanks to an unexpected supporter, Justin Cabezas avoided up to 30 years in prison for a fiery drag- racing crash that killed an innocent motorist and her daughter.....More


'I forgive him'
July 25th, 2002 - St. Petersburg Times

TAMPA -- After his wife and daughter died in a fiery car wreck in 1998, Bruce Murakami turned his life to a single goal: bringing charges against the young driver he held responsible.....More



'A Story for the Spirit'
July 30th, 2002 - Good Morning America

Bruce Murakami and Justin Cabezas appear on Good Morning America to tell their story.

56k - 1.3mb

DSL/Cable - 10.8mb

(Windows Media Player Required)



'Forgiving Spirit'
July 30th, 2002 - CNN

Bruce Murakami and Justin Cabezas appear on CNN to tell their story.

56k - 2.3mb

DSL/Cable - 18.8mb

(Windows Media Player Required)


'A bond forged by forgiveness'
October 11th, 2002 - St. Petersburg Times

ST. PETERSBURG -- Their last time together was in criminal court. Bruce Murakami asked a judge to withhold a finding of guilt against the driver responsible for the deaths of his wife and daughter.....More


'People Magazine'
November 10th, 2002

The instant he spotted the column of black smoke, Bruce Murakami felt a sense of dread. Driving from his suburban Tampa home toward the plume, Murakami stopped--he still can't explain why--to run toward its source, a flaming tangle of vehicles sprawled across a six-lane highway.....More


To my lovely wife Cindy and Daddy's girl Chelsea,
November 16th, 2002

Four long years have passed since you two went on to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The emptiness and pain of missing you both is still very real and at times overwhelming, but through the strength and comfort of our Lord I am able to press forward with confidence knowing that you two are in a wonderful place call Heaven.

This has been a very busy year with positive results regarding the tragic car crash that claimed your beautiful lives. Both justice and forgiveness prevailed in such a wonderful way, I know without a doubt that you two played a huge part in this outcome with our Lord overseeing it and blessing it.

With our love,
Bruce, Josh and Brody Murakami


'The Gift of Forgiveness'
April 5, 2003 - CBS News, The Early Show

Tampa, FL -- (CBS) Bruce Murakami is a man with a mission that begins with a long and difficult journey. His drive is now routine, the destination, familiar, but the road that brought him here is still painful and his story still hard to tell.....More


'When Worlds Collide'
September 3, 2003 - NBC Dateline

Bruce Murakami and Justin Cabezas appear on NBC Dateline to tell their story. Detailed in a 1 hour special with Keith Morrison and all new exclusive interviews and unseen footage that tell what really happened.

Part 1 - 21mb
Part 2 - 13mb
Part 3 - 10mb
Part 4 - 20mb
Part 5 - 19mb

(Click to watch streaming video or Right click and choose "Save Target As" to download prior to viewing. Windows Media Player Required. Cable or DSL connection recommended.)

If you would like to purchase a video tape of this show, contact Bruce Murakami at bmurakami@touchedby.com.


'The Montel Williams Show'
December 8, 2003 - NBC

Bruce Murakami appears on The Montel Williams Show.

DSL / Cable - 24mb

(Click to watch streaming video or Right click and choose "Save Target As" to download prior to viewing. Windows Media Player Required. Cable or DSL connection recommended.)

'Your Turn - A Journey to Forgiveness'
December 31, 2003 - FOX 13 News, Tampa

Bruce Murakami and Justin Cabezas talk about the Safe Teen Driver program and take viewer calls and questions.

DSL / Cable - 36mb

(Click to watch streaming video or Right click and choose "Save Target As" to download prior to viewing. Windows Media Player Required. Cable or DSL connection recommended.)

'Bruce and Justin at Northside Christian School'
December, 2003

Bruce Murakami and Justin Cabezas appear at Northside Christian School in St Petersburg, Florida as part of the Safe Teen Driver program.

DSL / Cable - 17mb

(Click to watch streaming video or Right click and choose "Save Target As" to download prior to viewing. Windows Media Player Required. Cable or DSL connection recommended.)

'Reckless Actions, Ruined Lives: Could You Forgive?'
February 16, 2004 - The John Walsh Show

Bruce Murakami and Justin Cabezas appear on The John Walsh Show.

DSL / Cable - 39mb

(Click to watch streaming video or Right click and choose "Save Target As" to download prior to viewing. Windows Media Player Required. Cable or DSL connection recommended.)

'Fatale Straatrace'
April, 2004

View excerpts from the riveting Dutch documentary that gives us a better look into the lives of Bruce and his family.

DSL / Cable - 35mb

(Click to watch streaming video or Right click and choose "Save Target As" to download prior to viewing. Windows Media Player Required. Cable or DSL connection recommended.)

'Oprah'
November 18, 2005

Bruce Murakami and Justin Cabezas appear on Oprah.

DSL / Cable - 19mb, 9:13 Minutes

(Click to watch streaming video or Right click and choose "Save Target As" to download prior to viewing. Windows Media Player Required. Cable or DSL connection recommended.)

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The Murakami family may be contacted by email, bmurakami@touchedby.com

Visit SafeTeenDriver.org
A Non-Profit Organization Founded
by Bruce Murakami.