Silva, Ex-UCLA Swimming Star, Is Killed in Florida Crash at 28

Chris Silva, a former UCLA swimmer who was the first black person to hold a U.S. swimming record, was killed Sunday when his car skidded out of control and hit a concrete bus bench in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., police said. He was 28.

Silva, who was director of the minorities program for the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are investigating the accident in which Silva’s Ferrari Testarossa broke in two. A toxicology report from the Broward County Coroner’s office will be ready in one to three days.

A passenger, Charles Loiacone, 29, was injured and treated at Broward General Medical Center.

Silva was a member of UCLA’s 1982 national championship team. He was an All-American from 1982 to 1984, competing in the 400-yard medley relay and the 400, 100 and 50 freestyle events. He was part of a 400 free relay team that held an American record.

“He was doing what he always wanted to do for swimming and that was to recruit more minorities to participate in the sport,” Bruin Coach Ron Ballatore said in a prepared statement.

A service will be held Friday in Menlo Park, Calif., but final arrangements are pending, Ballatore said.