Cause of fatal crash unknown until toxicology examined

A Saturday evening crash on SR-312 left one local man dead and his passenger in critical condition after the driver momentarily lost control of his vehicle, slid into the median, and continued into oncoming traffic in the eastbound lanes; according to information obtained by Historic City News this morning.

The two-vehicle crash occurred at about 5:16 p.m. when a 2003 Lincoln sedan, driven by 29-year-old Alec-Julius Francis Rizzi, left the roadway and careened into a 2006 Honda Odyssey mini-van driven by 50-year-old Kim L Westfall-Serverius.

The impact to Rizzi’s vehicle was on the driver’s side. He sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene, according to St Johns County Fire Rescue. His passenger, 28-year-old Brittney N Williams of Palm Coast, was stabilized and then transported to Flagler Hospital, in critical condition.

St Augustine Police Spokesman Mark Samson, told local reporters that because the results of the traffic homicide investigation are not complete, it is unknown if alcohol was a factor in the collision. Toxicology may take two weeks to return blood-alcohol levels.

Earlier this year, Rizzi, who resided at 2120 Old Tyme Avenue in St Augustine, was arrested twice; on February 1st and May 16th. The recent arrests involved first-degree misdemeanor charges of drug equipment possession or use, destroying, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a third-degree felony, and possession of cocaine, also a third-degree felony. Rizzi was also charged with marijuana possession, a first-degree misdemeanor, and third-degree felony charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, firefighter or emergency medical technician.

Westfall-Serverius, who resides on Egret Crest Lane at Anastasia Lakes, and her son, who was a passenger in the mini-van, did not sustain serious injuries — the driver was transported to Flagler Hospital, examined and released.