20-year-old crashes mom’s Porsche, killing friend, Florida cops say. ‘I’m the reason’
A 20-year-old took his friend for a ride in his mom’s new Porsche and lost control of the car, causing a fiery rollover crash that killed his friend in May 2023, Florida authorities said.
More than a year later, now-21-year-old Zachary Kreusch of Winter Springs is charged with vehicular homicide in the death of 20-year-old Dylan Astacio, troopers said.
McClatchy News attempted to reach Kreusch’s attorney for comment July 24 but did not immediately receive a response.
Shortly before 11 p.m. on May 16, 2023, Kreusch took his mom’s Porsche 718 Boxster convertible for a spin with Astacio in Seminole County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Kreusch told police that Astacio wanted to see how fast the car could go. But Kreusch lost control, traveling off the road first to the right, before overcorrecting and traveling off the left, troopers said. The convertible went into a ditch, hit a tree and rolled onto the right side, trapping Astacio as the car caught on fire, investigators said.
Kreusch got out of the car before it became engulfed in flames and called 911, officials said. According to a recording of the call, he told investigators “my friend is stuck and he’s not breathing.”
He added, “I think I just killed my friend.”
When a deputy got to the scene, Kreusch apologized repeatedly, saying it was his fault and “I’m the reason he’s … dead.”
The yearlong investigation ended in Kreusch’s arrest July 22, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Astacio was a student at Seminole State College, according to his family. Loved ones described him as an “avid sports enthusiast” who loved to hunt, work on his truck, and spend time with his friends and family.
“He was a conversationalist who enjoyed learning from others and his selflessness was evident to everyone who met him,” family wrote in his obituary.
Winter Springs is about a 15-mile drive northeast from downtown Orlando.
What to do if you’re in a car crash
More than 5 million traffic accidents were reported by police in 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“No one wants to get into a car crash. But being prepared and knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives, reduce injuries and make the claims process simpler and easier,” the Insurance Information Institute said on its website.
Here are 10 things you should do if you’re in a car crash:
Pull the vehicle over to a safe place on the side of the road if possible.
Assess any possible injuries and make sure everyone is OK.
Call 911 if anyone is injured.
Assess the car damage and take photos if possible.
Don’t leave the scene.
If the vehicle involved was unattended, leave a note with your name and phone number.
Note the names and contact information of everyone in the crash, the makes and models of the cars, and the location of the crash.
Ask other drivers for a license, car registration and insurance ID.
Report the crash to police or highway patrol.
File an accident report even if police can’t come to the scene, and notify your insurance shortly after.
This story was originally published July 24, 2024 at 2:43 PM with the headline "20-year-old crashes mom’s Porsche, killing friend, Florida cops say. ‘I’m the reason’."