Two hotel workers killed; dentist arrested on DUI charges

The three co-workers ended their shift at 1:45 a.m. Saturday and set off from the Marriott Waterside Hotel toward their cars, parked in a garage on Harbour Island.

As Doug Kozar, Kate Kohlier and Joao Barbosa began crossing the bridge onto the island, a black 2011 Cadillac approached, also heading south.

"I see the car speed, speed like crazy," Barbosa said. "As soon as I see it, I go 'Doug, Doug, Doug, Kate, Kate, Kate!' because I see the car looking like something is going to happen.

"The car starts spinning."

The Cadillac struck the curb at the base of the bridge, police said, crossed the northbound lane, jumped the other curb and traveled along the sidewalk, hitting Kohlier and Kozar, who was thrown over the guardrail.

Kohlier, 24, a psychology major who was about a month from graduating from the University of South Florida, and Kozar, a 23-year-old University of Tampa graduate, were killed.

Barbosa, a 47-year-old father of two teens, jumped in a bush, escaping with a sprained ankle.

The man behind the wheel of the Cadillac, local dentist Matthew R. Moye, 34, was drunk, police said.

Tampa Fire Rescue crews pulled Moye, his wife and another female passenger from the two-door Cadillac. None of them was injured, authorities said.

All three victims worked for the Marriott's events staff.

Kohlier was a 2004 graduate of Largo High School and a member of the National Honors Society, according to a school website.

Kozar saw his job as a foothold on the hotel chain's corporate ladder. He hoped his criminology degree would help him eventually manage the downtown hotel's security staff, his father said.

Russell Kozar said his son moved from the family's home in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., nearly four years ago to go to school. His friends had sold him on Tampa's weather and fishing.

The elder Kozar learned of the crash when a Tampa detective called him about 6:30 a.m.

"To think that this happened when he was working so hard," he said. "He didn't do anything wrong. He was just walking to his car."

Moye, of 3310 S. Ferdinand Ave., was arrested on two counts each of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence-manslaughter, and one count each of DUI with injury and battery on a law enforcement officer.

According to an arrest report, Moye argued with a police officer at the scene and slapped the officer's hand.

Moye was being held at the Hillsborough County Jail; bail had not been set. Jail records list him as a dentist at Big Bend Dental in Riverview.

On Aug. 7, a Hillsborough County deputy cited Moye for doing 90 mph in a 55 mph zone, records show. Moye pleaded no contest and was ordered to attend advanced defensive driving school by December; adjudication was withheld.

Moye also pleaded no contest after being cited by Tampa police for doing 82 mph in a 65 mph zone in August 2009. He paid a fine and adjudication was withheld.

At his home Saturday afternoon, Barbosa said he couldn't believe he was still alive.

"If I go back to work I'm going to have to pass that spot and picture it in my mind," he said. "I'm going to be sad."