A woman was killed and a 21-year-old man is facing charges after a fiery fatal crash early Monday on U.S. Highway 19 in Pasco County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 38-year-old Courtney Ann Kreckel of Port Richey sustained fatal injuries when her Kia Sephia was hit from behind on northbound U.S. 19 at Eastwood Lane by a speeding Mazda Miata sports car.
Troopers said Ryan Sean Brosnan of Port Richey was driving at more than 100 mph when the crash happened around 3:15 a.m.
Investigators say the impact was so strong, Kreckel’s Kia was pushed across the median and into the southbound lane, where it burst into flames. They say Kreckel was burned alive and officially pronounced dead at the Medical Center of Trinity just before 4 a.m.
Investigators say Brosnan on the other hand only suffered minor injuries. He was arrested on the scene for possession of marijuana and investigators say more charges are likely, following toxicology results.
According to the arrest report, investigators at the scene smelled alcohol on Brosnan’s breath and also noted he had blood shot, watery eyes and was swaying while standing. Investigators say Brosnan is a bartender at Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill and was working there earlier in the evening.
According to the report, when investigators asked Brosnan if he had been drinking, he said, "I had a couple, but not like a bunch." The report said he also admitted to sometimes drinking on the job if people bought him shots.
When investigators asked Brosnan about his shift Sunday night in particular, they say he told them "We get a shift drink or two at the end. Like, when we are all done, we get, like, one beer."
Bay News 9 contacted the owners of Rusty Bellies. Their attorney told us they have surveillance video of Brosnan clocking out and leaving right after his shift at 7:30pm. As for where he went next, the attorney told us Brosnan indicated he was meeting up with friends but did not say where he was going.
The attorney also said the owners do not permit any drinking of alcohol by employees while they work. He also said Brosnan was a relatively new employee and had only been working at the restaurant for a few months.
The Pasco county school district confirms Brosnan was a 2010 graduate of Mitchell High School in Trinity, where he played football.
His father, Brian Brosnan, faced DUI charges back in March after a Pinellas County Deputy noticed him swerving on the roadway and pulled him over. At the time, the elder Brosnan was a Sergeant with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. He lost his license, got probation and was demoted to court bailiff.