Driver Found Guilty Of Killing 3 In Crash

A Clay County jury has found a Middleburg man who ran a stop sign in a November 2006 crash guilty of three counts of vehicular homicide.

Edward Abruscato, 40, was arrested and tried after the Florida Highway Patrol determined he caused the crash of three vehicles that killed three a man and two children and injured four other people, including himself.

Jeffrey Spear, 42, and his 7-year-old daughter, Christianna Spear, died when they were struck head-on by a car that was hit by Abruscato's pickup truck in the intersection of county road 215 and Santa Clara Avenue near Middleburg on Nov. 8, 2006. Katie Ray, 16, who was riding in Abruscato's pickup, also died.

Four others were hospitalized with serious injuries.

During the trial, prosecutors said Abruscato had been speeding and driving wildly in the minutes before the crash.

After just over three hours of deliberation, Abruscato was guilty of all counts, including a charge of reckless driving.

Family members of those who were killed who have followed every step of Abruscato's prosecution were in the courtroom Wednesday morning as the verdict was read.

"We're happy with the verdict," said Katie's father, Patrick Ray. "Nothing's going to bring any of them back, but she still here with us in our hearts."

Abruscato could face up to 15 years in prison on each count of homicide and five more on the reckless driving charge. His sentencing was scheduled for Feb. 13.

Katie's mother said she hopes he'll get a long sentence.

"He gave us the maximum, why shouldn't we expect the maximum from him," Leah Ray said. "That's the way I feel."

Previous Stories:

• November 8, 2007: Middleburg Students Honor Friend Killed In Crash
• February 15, 2007: Arrest Made In Triple-Fatal Middleburg Crash
• November 21, 2006: Family Torn Apart By Fatal Crash Leans On Faith
• November 9, 2006: 3 Dead, 5 Injured In Clay County Crash