BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Mark Vannicola Jr., 36, of Merritt Island, faces new charges in connection to a fatal crash on New Year’s Eve in Cocoa Beach.
The crash that night on the West Cocoa Beach Causeway led to the death of Pamela Morrison, 70, of Barney, Georgia. Morrison was a passenger in the crash, one of three hospitalized along with her driver and another passenger in the wreck, police said.
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Cocoa Beach investigators now say Vannicola was operating his vehicle at a reckless speed while under the influence of alcohol during the crash, adding in a news release that one of the people hospitalized in the wreck is still in critical condition.
Vannicola was arrested at the scene, but not initially regarding accusations of DUI, according to a probable cause affidavit. After Cocoa Beach police reportedly requested help from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office for security and traffic control while working the crash scene, a deputy who made contact with Vannicola noted he “appeared highly intoxicated, he had slurred speech, bloodshot, watery glassy eyes, and the strong odor of alcoholic beverage (sic) was emitting from his person,” the affidavit states. The deputy added Vannicola would allegedly not speak with them, nor would he confirm or deny he was injured in the crash.
The affidavit continues, describing how Vannicola reportedly asked the deputy if he could stand up. When the deputy told him to stay seated until he was seen by fire rescue, Vannicola allegedly stood up quickly, turned toward the deputy and yelled “(expletive) you (expletive), I’ll stand if I want,” before things deteriorated further, the document states.
Due to his aggressive posturing, and bladed stance, I implemented a takedown and placed him into handcuffs. While seated on the ground, Mr. Vannicola aggressively jerked his right elbow into my right calf, committing the offense of battery. While still seated on the ground, Mr. Vannicola spat on Cpl. Coppola (...) Mr. Vannicola was taken to the ground on his side until he could be secured into a patrol vehicle.
BCSO Filing No. 188870822 (excerpt)
Vannicola was booked around 3:30 a.m. Jan. 1, charged with resisting an officer without violence and two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, records show. He bonded out the next morning.
At latest, after being taken into custody without incident at 3:07 p.m. Friday and transported to the Cocoa Beach Police Department, Vannicola now faces charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, DUI fourth offense and two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, according to the release.
At Vannicola’s first appearance in court Saturday regarding his new charges, a judge granted him a $620,000 total bond amount.
The investigation is still active and anyone with additional information was asked to contact Cocoa Beach police at 321-868-3251, the release states.
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