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Man, 94, dies after being carjacked in Daytona Beach

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A 94-year-old man died after being carjacked in Daytona Beach late Thursday night.

Police said Vittario Vecchiarelli got out of his car to pick up his mail around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Authorities said that was when a man in a truck pulled up, got out of the vehicle, jumped into Vecchiarelli's car and sped off. WFTV found out the truck's driver sped off too.

Vecchiarelli tried to chase the carjackers down Woodland Avenue, but didn't get far before collapsing on the grass, officers said.

"This poor guy, 94 years old, what does he have in life? His car and his house. I can just imagine what was going through his mind," said Chief Mike Chitwood of the Daytona Beach Police Department.

Authorities said detectives found Vecchiarelli's car early Friday morning at the Indigo Plantation apartments on Powell Boulevard.

"It's heartbreaking.  You know.  I'm really sad," said neighbor Andrea Linkinhoker.

Witnesses helped the elderly man get up and were trying to get him into the house.

"He appeared to be in a state of shock.  He said somebody had just stolen his car," said neighbor Joseph Ramsey.

Vecchiarelli died at the hospital.

"I think it maybe killed him.  Yes, I'm pretty sure," said Linkinhoker.

Neighbors knew the victim as Vitt or Victor.  Many Eyewitness News spoke to in his beachside community in Daytona Beach said everyone helped him from time to time.

"I knew him. I cut his grass.  If we had extra chicken, you know, I'd bring it down to him," said Maurice Hornstein, neighbor.

Some speculate that Vecchiarelli struggled with the suspect or even tried to chase after the car.

Detectives don't know for sure, but the ordeal was so hard on the elderly man they believe he may have had a heart attack -- which ultimately killed him.

That could result in murder charges for his alleged assailant.

"If the gentleman died as a result of what happened to him, then there may be some serious charges," said Hornstein.

Police did find Vechiarelli's silver Chevy Cavalier on the west side of town.  They are still searching for the truck.

Authorities are still confirming Vecchiarelli's exact cause of death.  Police are asking residents to call law enforcement if they saw either the victim's car or that truck at any point Thursday night.