Third person dead in Christmas crash

A 66-year-old Hudson woman died Wednesday from injuries she suffered in a crash on U.S. 19 on Christmas Day, family members and authorities said.

Linda McWilliams was in the front passenger seat of a Chevrolet Tahoe that had stopped at the traffic light at Little Road about 2:20 p.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Her husband, Raymond, was driving. Linda McWilliams' daughter, Denise Bassi, was in the back seat with her husband, Gerard.

Authorities said David Belniak, 34, of Spring Hill, was northbound on U.S. 19 in a Nissan pickup and failed to stop at the light, crashing into the back of the Tahoe.

Gerard Bassi, 51, died at the scene. Denise Bassi, 50, died later at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. They lived in Connecticut.

The McWilliamses lived next door to Linda's brother, Michael Burkoski, 62. Burkoski said his sister suffered severe brain injuries in the crash and was removed from life support Wednesday. Raymond McWilliams is recovering at home.

Belniak, who was treated and released from Bayfront the day after the crash, has a long history of traffic infractions, including two DUI arrests. In one of those arrests, police found a gallon of the date-rape drug GHB in Belniak's Mustang. He served 17 months in prison after pleading no contest to trafficking the drug.

The investigation into the Christmas crash is ongoing, Highway Patrol spokesman Larry Coggins said. Blood was drawn from both drivers to see whether alcohol was involved. Those test results could take several weeks, Coggins said.

- Molly Moorhead, Times staff writer