JU Freshman Among Five Killed In Ocala Auto Crash

Eddie Farah

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A local student at Jacksonville University is among the five teenage boys killed in an Ocala runway crash in an exclusive "fly-in" community.

Jacksonville University football player Jacob Casey was a freshman and 19 years old. For some reason he and four of his friends ranging in age from 18 to 20, piled inito a $75,000 BMW in the exclusive Ocala community known as Jumbolair Aviation Estates. That is also the home of actor John Travolta.

Around 3:45 early Saturday these guys were somehow in the community and traveling at a high rate of speed when the 2008 model car went off the runway.
Police say the car skidded and literallly flew in the air for 200 feet off the end of the 85 foot embankment. The car hit a tree and it split the vehicle and its engine in half.

The Florida Highway Patrol says that debris was scattered over a 200 square foot area. Three of the young men flew out of the car. All died at the scene.

The victims have been identified as Joshua D. Ammirato, 18, of Fairfield, who was identified as the driver of the $75,000 car; Dustin J. Dawe, 19, also of Fairfield; James Devon Hime, 19, of Anthony; and Jacob James Casey, 19 and Isaac Rubin, 20, both of Ocala.

Officers say there was no visible sign of alcohol at the scene. It's unknown whether another car was involved and they were racing or just speeding solo.

Casey graduated from Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala. It was said by his coach that he had a bright future ahead of him. If we could only go back in time. Our condolences to the families of these young men.