Driver faces charges of vehicular homicide

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 15, 2000

PINE RIDGE -- The surviving driver of a fatal head-on collision in November now faces vehicular homicide charges, Assistant State Attorney Willard Pope said Friday. After months of review, Pope said investigators have determined that Mark Falasca, 21, of Beverly Hills, was driving recklessly when he passed a large pickup in front of him on Mustang Drive in a no-passing zone. While in the oncoming lane, Falasca drove directly into the path of John York, 61, also of Beverly Hills, just south of Bonanza Drive. York died at the scene of the Nov. 29 mid afternoon collision. There were no passengers in either car. Pope said he had to review case law to determine whether Falasca could be shown to be driving recklessly at the time of the crash by passing another car in a no-passing zone. Reckless driving must be proven to find someone guilty of vehicular homicide. Investigators did not find any evidence that Falasca had been drinking or using drugs before the accident.

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