Ybor City – In the early morning hours of Jan. 10, a tire blew on the sport utility vehicle Marcus Grubb was driving eastbound on I-4 near Plant City. The explosion caused Grubb to lose control of the Ford Explorer, which veered into the median, overturned several times and finally came to rest on its right side.
Grubb ‘s passengers, Figueroa Marzan and Kezra Johnson, were not wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the vehicle. Marzan died from his injuries later in the day. Johnson was not hurt as badly as the other two and survived.
Grubb also managed to survive the crash, but he remained in a coma for nearly three weeks. Now, he’s starting to respond, and the entertainment community is rallying behind him with a benefit set for 10 p.m., Feb. 9, at Liquid Tampa.
Grubb was a shot boy at the popular bar and has made lifelong friends with most of the entertainers of Ybor City.
Alexis De La Mer, a close friend of Grubb’s, planned the benefit, and guarantees that almost everyone who frequents Tampa Bay bars has encountered her young friend.
“He was a dancer and shot boy at Flamingo last summer and has been a dancer and shot boy at Liquid for the last year,” De la Mer explained. “He also worked at the Saint last year.”
The benefit, appropriately titled “Brotherly Love,” is hosted by De la Mer and Bryan Smith and includes special performances by members of the House of Infiniti and Nicky Monet. Every performer is donating tips to assist in paying Grubb’s medical expenses. Several raffles will also help raise money for the constantly increasing expenses. There is no cover to attend the event.
Currently, Grubb, 19, is recovering at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.
According to De la Mer, Grubb is responding to visitors, but he is still unable to speak.
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