Charges brought in fatal crash

A Christmas crash killed three; a serial offender is arrested.

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 20, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT David Belniak, 34, faces charges including DUI manslaughter.

LAND O'LAKES - On Christmas, a family in an SUV waited at a red light on U.S. 19 at Little Road.

They were a few miles from their destination; the car packed with gifts and the holiday ham. Then David Belniak, a 34-year-old with a long record, slammed into the back of their Chevrolet Tahoe.

Three family members were killed - Linda McWilliams, 66, of Hudson, and her daughter and son-in-law, Denise and Gerard Bassi of Connecticut. Raymond McWilliams, Linda's husband who was driving, survived.

Belniak of Spring Hill was treated and released that day. He was arrested Saturday morning on three counts of DUI manslaughter, three counts of vehicular homicide, one count of DUI causing serious bodily injury and one count of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury.

Belniak has a record of traffic infractions and arrests, records show. He has faced DUI charges twice, and one of those times New Port Richey police found a gallon of the date-rape drug GHB in his Ford Mustang. Belniak served 17 months in prison after pleading no contest to trafficking the drug.

He has numerous speeding tickets on his record, the worst for driving 91 mph in a 45-mph zone in 1995. His most recent ticket was in September.

In 1994, he struck a pedestrian on U.S. 19 near Fivay Road. The woman died, but Belniak wasn't charged.

Belniak is being held in the Land O'Lakes jail with bail set at $330,000.

[Last modified January 19, 2008, 20:09:37]