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5 Die After Car Skids Off Runway In Fly-In Community

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By RON WORD, The Associated Press

Published: January 27, 2008

OCALA - Five young men are dead after a car they were riding in crashed after traveling off an airport runway at the exclusive fly-in community of Jumbolair Aviation Estates early Saturday, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The crash at the community, which is also the home of actor John Travolta, happened about 3:45 a.m. According to a preliminary patrol investigation, a 2008 gray BMW with five occupants, ages 18 to 20, was traveling at a high speed on the airstrip.

As it neared the end of the runway, the car skidded and traveled off the end of an 85-foot high embankment, became airborne for 200 feet and struck a large tree.

At impact, the vehicle split in half and the car's engine separated from the vehicle, scattering pieces of the car over a 200-square-foot area. Three of the five occupants were ejected from the vehicle and all were pronounced dead at the scene, patrol spokesman Lt. Mike Burroughs said.

The victims have been identified as Joshua D. Ammirato, 18, of Fairfield, who was driving the $75,000 car; Dustin J. Dawe, 19, also of Fairfield; James Devon Hime, 19, of Anthony; and Jacob James Casey, 19, and Isaac Rubin, 20, both of Ocala.

It was not clear whether any of the men lived within the gated community.

"There is no doubt this is a terrible tragedy. They should not have been out there," Burroughs said.

Four of the men were former students at North Marion High School, where they were members of the wrestling team.

Casey graduated from Trinity Catholic High School, where he played football. He went on to play for Jacksonville University.

In a statement, Jacksonville coach Kerwin Bell called the defensive back a "great young man."

"Jacob had a bright future ahead of him and was a joy to work with on the football field," said Bell, who coached at Trinity before he was hired at Jacksonville. "I enjoyed my time with him at Trinity Catholic and this past year at JU. He was a great young man with a great family who we will miss a lot."

"They were all good students. They all had good personalities and a lot of friends," said Kathy Quelland, North Marion principal. "We saw them grow up over four years."

Troopers were still investigating the accident Saturday, and Burroughs said it had not been determined if the men were wearing seatbelts, how fast the car was going and whether alcohol was involved.

"It is too early to determine if alcohol was involved. There was no visible signs of it," said Burroughs, who said troopers will await the results of autopsies.

Investigators did not know whether the vehicle was speeding or racing another car.

At the black iron gate of the exclusive community, a reporter was asked to leave and told over an intercom that no one was available to talk about the accident.

A community memorial and candlelight vigil will be held at 6 p.m. Monday in Ocala.

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