Fiery crash kills 5 young men
Troopers suspect alcohol played a role in tragedy

ANTHONY - Details about the tragic car crash at Greystone Airport that claimed the lives of five young men early Saturday are still emerging, and it may be some time - if ever - before investigators piece together all the pertinent facts.
One thing is certain. The families and friends of Jacob James Casey, 19; James Devon Hime, 19; Joshua D. Ammirato, 18; Dustin J. Dawe, 19; and Isaac Rubin, 20, are devastated. All five were pronounced dead at the scene after an apparent high-speed crash that investigators say likely involved alcohol.

Ammirato was driving his father's gray 2008 BMW M5 sedan. The $80,000 car, registered to Santo Ammirato, was traveling north on the 1.5-mile-long airstrip that actor John Travolta and others regularly use to fly in and out of Ocala. Florida Highway Patrol Capt. Jeff Succi said there were yaw, or sideways, skid marks at the end of the runway, indicating the car turned sideways before launching over an embankment. It then sailed through the air about 200 feet before slamming into a large tree and bursting into flames.

Troopers believe the car traveled over the 80- to 85-foot high embankment at the end of the airstrip and struck the tree about 15 feet above the ground. The car broke into two pieces upon impact. Three of victims were ejected from the car, FHP officials said. Succi said the crash appears to be alcohol-related, but added that toxicology reports will provide the definitive answer. Succi said the men apparently had been at a party in the hours before the crash, but FHP was still in the process of interviewing witnesses. It is not yet known whether any of the victims were wearing seat belts. The crash was reported to Marion County Fire Rescue at 3:47 a.m. All five men were pronounced dead between 3:55 and 3:56 a.m. by Fire Rescue paramedics at the scene.

The vehicle came to rest in flames near the home of Augustine and Kristina Berenguer in the 1400 block of Northeast 95th Street. The Berenguers were awakened by a bang and saw flames through a window. They said the nearby crash shook their house. Augustine Berenguer went outside to see what had happened and shouted for his wife to call 911. George Borger, who lives next to the airstrip, said a loud engine noise woke him up at 3:30 a.m. "I saw them going up and down the runway," he said. "I don't know how fast they were going, but they were flying."

NORTH MARION MOURNING

The accident strikes at the heart of the North Marion community as three of the young men are North Marion High School graduates. Hime, Ammirato, and Dawe all attended the school. Rubin attended Forest High School, where he was also a wrestler. Casey graduated from Trinity Catholic High, where he played football before moving on to play for Jacksonville University. North Marion High School's former and current students began gathering at Sparr Baptist Church on County Road 329 at about 2 p.m. Saturday to mourn the death of the five young men. North Marion High School principal Kathy Quelland knew three of the young men in the car.

"They were all wrestlers and involved in others sports and very popular students, so this is going to hit the North Marion community really hard," Quelland said. Kathy Crile, whose son graduated with the men and was on the wrestling team with them, organized the gathering at the church, located on the north side of County Road 329 east of the high school. "We wanted to have a place were everyone could get together and mourn, hug and cry," Crile said as students began gathering at the church. Crile said her son was good friends with four of the young men. Crile, who was obviously shaken, said her son easily could have been along for the ride with his friends.

Superintendent of Schools Jim Yancey said counselors will be made available at the school Monday, if needed. Alainya Frauenshuh, a North Marion senior, was friends with the young men, and said they had all gone to a Trinity High School basketball game and then to a party at a friend's home. They were celebrating Dustin "Smiley" Dawe's 19th birthday Friday night. The FHP's Succi said troopers are investigating reports that alcohol was served at the party. "It's heart-breaking," Frauenshuh said. "I'm praying for their families."
The five accident victims - shown from left to right, first the top row, then the bottom row - were Dustin Dawe, Jacob Casey, James Hime, Joshua Ammirato and Isaac Rubin.

MEMORIAL SERVICES SCHEDULED

After a meeting Saturday afternoon, local officials said there will be a candlelight vigil and memorial service 6 p.m. Monday at the Central Florida Community College Klein Center. "We echo how devastated we all are that this tragedy happened in our community," said Anna Redgate, president of Foundation for Grace, a grief counseling organization. "This is the first step in something that will have great impact in our community." Redgate said counselors will be available, and Dr. Fred Miley, with the Marion County community Crisis Response Team, will lead the event. The memorial service was scheduled during the meeting attended by Redgate, Yancey, Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers, County Commissioner Jim Payton, Ocala Deputy Police Chief Greg Graham and other police personnel. "On behalf of the city, we are deeply saddened by this event," Ewers said. "We want to reach out to the families, friends and all those affected." Information on Monday's memorial service is available at www.foundationforgrace.org.

The Rev. Patrick Sheedy, principal of Trinity Catholic High School, said grieving students gathered Saturday afternoon at Trinity Catholic to talk with counselors.
Sheedy said a memorial service for Casey is planned for 10:30 a.m. Monday in the school's gym. "We are saying prayers for all of the boys at church," he said.
Sheedy spent part of Saturday afternoon with Casey's father, and Sheedy said the father is devastated by the loss. Casey's mother, who lives in Lake Wales, was on her way to Ocala.

RUNWAY MISCHIEF AND HISTORY

Area residents told troopers that local teens regularly sneak onto the airstrip via an entrance in a nearby, ungated subdivision. The airstrip where the accident occurred is used by Travolta, who has a home at Jumbolair. Jeremy Thayer, co-owner of Jumbolair Aviation Estates, said he and wife Terri Jones-Thayer were called just before 8 a.m. Saturday and told about the crash. "We are shocked and sad for the five families," Thayer said. "It's just tragic. I have three children of my own, and I can't imagine living without one of them." He said they did not hear anything unusual on the airstrip overnight. "We are used to noise on the runway at night with planes landing," Thayer said. "And we have had teens out there we have had to chase off, but it's so large it's impossible to stop them all. It's a mile and a half runway, so if someone wanted to get out there they can."

Meanwhile, James Garemore, owner of Greystone Airport, says the teens did not access the airstrip through his property before driving at high speeds down the runway, according to Frank Keasler, Garemore's Jacksonville attorney. Keasler indicated the teens must have gotten onto the airstrip from the Jumbolair side of the development. "This does show the need for more enforcement of the Garemores' rights," Keasler said. "There's no control in Jumbolair, so we'll leave it at that. There is an obvious need for more control." Travolta has been battling the Garemores over use of the runway for more than a year.

Travolta was thrown into the mix in 2001 when he bought land at Jumbolair with plans to build a home. Travolta claims he was assured he would be able to use the airport. According to a federal suit, Travolta reportedly had a separate verbal agreement with the Garemores that allowed him to use the main 7,550-foot runway. Saturday's accident brought the number of traffic-related deaths in Marion County this month to eight. Three fatal crashes have occurred in the past week. This Web link is one opportunity to express your support for the victims' families. http://blogs.myspaceocala.com/Home/t...4/Default.aspx

Staff writers Austin L. Miller, Harriet Daniels, Christopher Curry and Joe Callahan contributed to this report from the The Ocala Star-Banner