Police interviewed driver of a Dodge Viper in Bollea crash

CLEARWATER -- Police interviewed the driver of a Dodge Viper at the scene of a Sunday night crash involving a yellow Toyota Supra driven by Nick Bollea, 17, the son of wrestler Hulk Hogan, who is also known as Terry Bollea.

The passenger in that crash, 22-year-old U.S. Marine and Iraq war veteran John J. Graziano, remains in critical condition at Bayfront Medical Center.

Witnesses said they saw Bollea racing against the Viper moments before the crash. Clearwater Police spokesman Wayne Shelor would not release the name of the driver or the owner of the car. Shelor said Hulk Hogan was not in the car. Hogan is the owner of a 2006 silver Viper, an uncommon and distinctive vehicle in this area.

"Mr. Bollea was not in a car, was not driving the Viper and had no proximity to the wreck," Shelor said Wednesday.

Shelor also would not say whether Bollea was racing before the crash. However, he did say that police have interviewed several witnesses.

"Their statements and observations and the evidence we've collected have advanced our ongoing investigation," Shelor said.

Shelor anticipates it will be several weeks before the investigation is complete.

A prayer vigil for Graziano was held at 7 p.m. today at Glen Oaks Park, 1345 Court St.

Tamara El-Khoury, Times staff writer