Villages man killed in accident on Buena Vista

[jdsl1998]

Does anyone have information on this accident? The number to call is included at the end of the article.

Charles L. Kusiak charged with DUI/manslaughter in crash that killed passenger | Gainesville.com (http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120429/NEWS/120429547?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar)

[GaryW]

That is crazy. We went by there early sunday morning and it looked like someone had a bad wreck. That is really crazy..

[zcaveman]

There is an article on it in the Daily Sun. I am pretty sure It was just south of the Springdale circle. There was a lamp post down in the median yesterday morning and they mentioned that the car ended up facing Belle MEade Circle.

[graciegirl]

Awful. Awful.

I have seen kids driving at high speeds in the daytime on the main roads here too.

Terrible.

[jgbama]

Awful. Awful.

I have seen kids driving at high speeds in the daytime on the main roads here too.

Terrible.

Such a tragic loss of a young life. Seems our "lower paradise" for the 55+ is getting younger and younger. I know the "frogs" (and I'll be one soon) hate to see their "hometown" treated as a novel, vacation place and with such disrespect by young people speeding through the neighborhoods as in this case.

I'll pray for the families of both young people in this accident.

[Golfer in Sanibel]

Does anyone have information on this accident? The number to call is included at the end of the article.

Charles L. Kusiak charged with DUI/manslaughter in crash that killed passenger | Gainesville.com (http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120429/NEWS/120429547?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar)

One life lost and one ruined in a second. Men are indestructable at 23 years old.

[villager]

That happened right behind my parent's house. My mom heard the crash. She said the emergency vehicles were there a long time. The crash was around 2:30 am and they left around 5 am. So sad. I'll print out the article to give to them in case they have any further information for the authorities.

[kyblue]

I wonder why he went to Leesburg Hospital instead of the Villages - if he was treated and released? Is this a reason for concern that for simple things - people do not go to the Villages Hospital?

[eweissenbach]

My dad always said; "nothing good happens after 1 AM."

[KathieI]

My dad always said; "nothing good happens after 1 AM."

LOL... oh no??? Hang out with me sometime, lots of fun after 1am :pepper2:

but we're very careful about drinking and driving... :angel:

[ilovetv]

I wonder why he went to Leesburg Hospital instead of the Villages - if he was treated and released? Is this a reason for concern that for simple things - people do not go to the Villages Hospital?

From this statement in the article, I would conclude that they took him to Leesburg Hospital because he was going to be booked in jail in Lake County:

"Kusiak, who sustained minor injuries, was taken to Leesburg Regional Medical Center. After he was treated, he was taken to the Lake County jail.

DeWeese did say that troopers felt there was enough evidence to immediately charge Kusiak."

[dillywho]

I wonder why he went to Leesburg Hospital instead of the Villages - if he was treated and released? Is this a reason for concern that for simple things - people do not go to the Villages Hospital?

Could be that at that time of the morning, both ER's were needed and the least injured went there (Leesburg).

[BobKat1]

My dad always said; "nothing good happens after 1 AM."

The older and wiser (hopefully:)) I get, the more that saying makes sense.

[zcaveman]

From this statement in the article, I would conclude that they took him to Leesburg Hospital because he was going to be booked in jail in Lake County:

"Kusiak, who sustained minor injuries, was taken to Leesburg Regional Medical Center. After he was treated, he was taken to the Lake County jail.

DeWeese did say that troopers felt there was enough evidence to immediately charge Kusiak."


Wonder why Lake County jail when the accident was on the Sumter / Marion county border.

[ilovetv]

Wonder why Lake County jail when the accident was on the Sumter / Marion county border.

Maybe because it was Florida Highway Patrol who investigated the accident and arrested the driver.

[zcaveman]

Maybe because it was Florida Highway Patrol who investigated the accident and arrested the driver.

Thanks. Works for me!

[skyguy79]

My dad always said; "nothing good happens after 1 AM."Hey! My son was born (not conceived) an hour and 50 minutes after 1AM and I always thought that was a very good thing!

[jblum315]

My dad always said; "nothing good happens after 1 AM."

My mother always said nothing good happens after midnight.

[Bogie Shooter]

I wonder why he went to Leesburg Hospital instead of the Villages - if he was treated and released? Is this a reason for concern that for simple things - people do not go to the Villages Hospital?

Just what are you trying to say...........or not say???

[eweissenbach]

Hey! My son was born (not conceived) an hour and 50 minutes after 1AM and I always thought that was a very good thing!

Proving there is an exception to every rule!

[eweissenbach]

My mother always said nothing good happens after midnight.

I grew up in the Central Time Zone. Midnight here is 1 am in TV.

[Russ_Boston]

I wonder why he went to Leesburg Hospital instead of the Villages - if he was treated and released? Is this a reason for concern that for simple things - people do not go to the Villages Hospital?

Same docs work in both. Not sure why they chose Leesburg.

[Cateca]

Pray explain... If The Vs. is senior-age restricted, how can a 23 or 22 year old be a resident. We did not move here to have drunk twenty somethings residing here endanger our lives. I have no answers. By the way, the Ocala Banner coverage of the accident was more detailed than The Sun's.... Even said driver, who survived, had NO idea who the passenger was.

[Villages PL]

Anyone notice the similarity in the two names? (Kusiak & Kokinakis) Kokinakis sounds Greek to me. I would guess they might be cousins. If they are cousins, this could cause a rift in the family. It's really sad.

[Skybo]

This is just so very sad. My heart goes out to the families and friends of both of these young men.

[Indydealmaker]

Pray explain... If The Vs. is senior-age restricted, how can a 23 or 22 year old be a resident. We did not move here to have drunk twenty somethings residing here endanger our lives. I have no answers. By the way, the Ocala Banner coverage of the accident was more detailed than The Sun's.... Even said driver, who survived, had NO idea who the passenger was.

Up to 20% can be under the age of 55. However, none can be under the age of 19 except as a short term visitor. I believe the 20% factor is dictated by the feds.

[buggyone]

There is an age limit that no one under 19 may live in a home in The Villages for more than 30 days a year. A 22 year old is not restricted from living with his parents full time.

[eweissenbach]

There is an age limit that no one under 19 may live in a home in The Villages for more than 30 days a year. A 22 year old is not restricted from living with his parents full time.

A 22 year old could live with parents or grandparents, could own or co-own a home in TV, or could own a home in one of the three "family" villages.

[chuckinca]

Could also be a renter.

[looneycat]

A 22 year old could live with parents or grandparents, could own or co-own a home in TV, or could own a home in one of the three "family" villages.

family villages?

[eweissenbach]

family villages?

There are at least three family villages; Oak Meadows, Bison Valley, and Spring Arbor. They exist primarily for families of employees of the villages. They do not have access to all the amenities of TV.

[Pturner]

My heart goes out to the families. Such a tragic waste.

My mother always said nothing good happens after midnight.

Jblum, please, please forgive me for saying this but um... your Momma was wrong. I was born one minute after midnight.

... Oh dear, I hope she was wrong. :shocked:

[JLHart]

Same docs work in both. Not sure why they chose Leesburg.

Because Leesburg is the regional Trauma center. They prob life flighted him out as the hella pad is at the Marion Co. Police substation just up Buena Vista at cr42.

[JimPete]

Jblum, please, please forgive me for saying this but um... your Momma was wrong. I was born one minute after midnight.

... Oh dear, I hope she was wrong. :shocked:

There are exceptions.

Jim

[SALYBOW]

I wonder why he went to Leesburg Hospital instead of the Villages - if he was treated and released? Is this a reason for concern that for simple things - people do not go to the Villages Hospital?

The Villages is not a trauma hospital so auto accidents are not taken there. Besides a paramedic does not make the decision how serious an injured person is, so they are all treated as possibly serious and taken to a trauma hospital.

Last Wednesday I got a bad burn from a cooking fire. We went to The Villages hospital and I was treated very well with only a 10-20 minute or so wait. If only this sucker would heal as fast!

[graciegirl]

The Villages is not a trauma hospital so auto accidents are not taken there. Besides a paramedic does not make the decision how serious an injured person is, so they are all treated as possibly serious and taken to a trauma hospital.

Last Wednesday I got a bad burn from a cooking fire. We went to The Villages hospital and I was treated very well with only a 10-20 minute or so wait. If only this sucker would heal as fast!

OH NO Sally! Prayers and hugs.

[GaryW]

Pray explain... If The Vs. is senior-age restricted, how can a 23 or 22 year old be a resident. We did not move here to have drunk twenty somethings residing here endanger our lives. I have no answers. By the way, the Ocala Banner coverage of the accident was more detailed than The Sun's.... Even said driver, who survived, had NO idea who the passenger was.

But I guess that is not much better than a drunken senior citizen flying down the mutlti-modal paths on golf carts and better yet,, driving home from the square after a few happy hour to many drinks. The age and drunk are not the concern. If you think there are no drunks here over twenty something, then you might want to rethink things. SCSO had a lady pulled over on cr-101 by crispers Saturday night doing the ole filed sobriety check,, I know she was everybit over 50, if not 60.

So get back to the issue,, not age,, but speed and drinking.

[graciegirl]

But I guess that is not much better than a drunken senior citizen flying down the mutlti-modal paths on golf carts and better yet,, driving home from the square after a few happy hour to many drinks. The age and drunk are not the concern. If you think there are no drunks here over twenty something, then you might want to rethink things. SCSO had a lady pulled over on cr-101 by crispers Saturday night doing the ole filed sobriety check,, I know she was everybit over 50, if not 60.

So get back to the issue,, not age,, but speed and drinking.


But in a way it IS a issue of age. This IS an over 55 community...not one for young people. If seniors are driving drunk it is wrong, but the community was built for THEM. Many of us came here to avoid things such as this.

[MOMMYS3ANGLS]

the Villages Hospital is not equipped for any major traumas. Anyone I know that has been injured or extremely ill has either gone directly to Leesburg or transported from TVRH by ambulance to Leesburg.

[GaryW]

But in a way it IS a issue of age. This IS an over 55 community...not one for young people. If seniors are driving drunk it is wrong, but the community was built for THEM. Many of us came here to avoid things such as this.

The only problem with that way of thought is that your in Florida,, Not a Island away from everyone. Unless you lock up all the roads, you will have that happen. Now if it had been a senior citizen and the same thing would have happend, then would it of been ok????
I was replying to the Twenty Something Drunks, Does not matter where you go unless you are on a Island by yourself no way around that..

In my 30 years of being around The Villages, I have seen alot worse. The way alot of the people act around the squares and at the stores, you would think they were twenty something.. I go back to thinking about the person on the bike that got ran over and backed over and parked on. Was that alright because the person that owned the golf cart was of age to live in TV????? That is why I say the age is not relevant. Not that is not important. But dont matter if your drunk, 21 or 91. Your Drunk and no way around it ..

[Jim 9922]

The only way we could possibly create our "safe island" would be to buy back from the counties all of our roads, install a true gate system and block out all access from major highways (eg. high walls), or move to a Del Webb Stone Crest type of community. I don't think that will happen, so our "normal urban problems" will continue to occur even more often as our population grows.

I do agree with GaryW: Drunk is drunk, rudeness is rudeness, irresponsible acts are irresponsible etc., no matter who does them, or how old you are or where you are! That's the real problem! No excuses for bad or dumb behavior.

[GaryW]

The only way we could possibly create our "safe island" would be to buy back from the counties all of our roads, install a true gate system and block out all access from major highways (eg. high walls), or move to a Del Webb Stone Crest type of community. I don't think that will happen, so our "normal urban problems" will continue to occur even more often as our population grows.

I do agree with GaryW: Drunk is drunk, rudeness is rudeness, irresponsible acts are irresponsible etc., no matter who does them, or how old you are or where you are! That's the real problem! No excuses for bad or dumb behavior.

Thanks,, that was a better way of putting it. :agree:

[Taltarzac725]

Drunk Driving Facts - Drunk Driving Statistics (http://dui.lifetips.com/cat/61352/drunk-driving-facts-stats/index.html)

MADD - Statistics (http://www.madd.org/statistics/)

[skip0358]

When the south end is finished and Moorse goes all the way to the Turnpike there will be more traffic. More traffic brings more problems including DUI as some people feel TV is a safe haven and a got cut thru to other roadways. Age doesn't define DUI and fatalities after riding with the FD for 42 years I can tell you we cut many and older person out of wrecks. We to are guilty! It's sad it happened to a young person but it's sad when it happens to anyone. FYI there has been a higher then normal SCSO prescence in LSL as of late. Have even heard of late night prescense near the hot spots.

[graciegirl]

The only way we could possibly create our "safe island" would be to buy back from the counties all of our roads, install a true gate system and block out all access from major highways (eg. high walls), or move to a Del Webb Stone Crest type of community. I don't think that will happen, so our "normal urban problems" will continue to occur even more often as our population grows.

I do agree with GaryW: Drunk is drunk, rudeness is rudeness, irresponsible acts are irresponsible etc., no matter who does them, or how old you are or where you are! That's the real problem! No excuses for bad or dumb behavior.


You are right. And I was wrong. My mind has frequently been changed by a very good presentation of the facts on here. Thank you for being patient with me.

[Barefoot]

The only way we could possibly create our "safe island" would be to buy back from the counties all of our roads, install a true gate system and block out all access from major highways (eg. high walls),
I do agree with GaryW: Drunk is drunk, rudeness is rudeness, irresponsible acts are irresponsible etc., no matter who does them, or how old you are or where you are! That's the real problem! No excuses for bad or dumb behavior.

The Villages will soon be a very large city with 100,000 residents and three town squares which are open to the public. There are many restaurants that offer Happy Hours, as do the Town Squares. My point is that drinking is a "way of life" for many people in TV. And there are many young people on the wait staffs of all the bars and restaurants.

Whatever age, it is up to us all to act responsibly, and take care of each other.

[nonseniorresident]

Pray explain... If The Vs. is senior-age restricted, how can a 23 or 22 year old be a resident. We did not move here to have drunk twenty somethings residing here endanger our lives. I have no answers. By the way, the Ocala Banner coverage of the accident was more detailed than The Sun's.... Even said driver, who survived, had NO idea who the passenger was.

Legally, they have to allow a small percentage of under 55. However, you don't have to be a resident to live nearby and drive on the roads, shop at the stores, eat at the restaurants, etc. Also, he did know the passenger they were friends he was lying to try to get out of trouble somehow. He was paranoid and in shock, and obviously drunk.

[buggyone]

Legally, they have to allow a small percentage of under 55. However, you don't have to be a resident to live nearby and drive on the roads, shop at the stores, eat at the restaurants, etc. Also, he did know the passenger they were friends he was lying to try to get out of trouble somehow. He was paranoid and in shock, and obviously drunk.

He was a server at a local restaurant and lived with his mother in The Villages. He had only moved in with her a few months ago.

[graciegirl]

Legally, they have to allow a small percentage of under 55. However, you don't have to be a resident to live nearby and drive on the roads, shop at the stores, eat at the restaurants, etc. Also, he did know the passenger they were friends he was lying to try to get out of trouble somehow. He was paranoid and in shock, and obviously drunk.

And you know this how?

[Carla B]

Legally, they have to allow a small percentage of under 55. However, you don't have to be a resident to live nearby and drive on the roads, shop at the stores, eat at the restaurants, etc. Also, he did know the passenger they were friends he was lying to try to get out of trouble somehow. He was paranoid and in shock, and obviously drunk.

Under the Federal Fair Housing law senior communities don't have to allow residents under 55. They can allow up to 20% under 55 and still maintain their status as an over-55 community.

[nonseniorresident]

And you know this how?

I knew them both.

[nonseniorresident]

Under the Federal Fair Housing law senior communities don't have to allow residents under 55. They can allow up to 20% under 55 and still maintain their status as an over-55 community.

I'm one of the 20% but you have nothing to fear. I rarely drink and NEVER drink and drive. I am respectful and love the community and the residents. Ha I honestly can't stand seeing other people my age here (unless their working)!

[rubicon]

My mother always said nothing good happens after midnight.

My mother said nothing good happens.:1rotfl: