Pickup truck kills S.I. biker
THE BASSIST for New Yorkbased metal band Adrenaline Mob died Friday in a fiery threecar crash in Florida that left seven others injured.
David Zablidowsky, an accomplished musician who also enjoyed stints with the popular Trans-Siberian Orchestra and rock band ZO2, died after a tractor-trailer veered off the highway into two vehicles carrying members of Adrenaline Mob as they were stopped for a flat tire, according to local reports. He was 38.
The band was headed to St. Petersburg from Biloxi, Miss., to play a show when they pulled over in Micanopy, about 150 miles from their destination. Six members of the party were traveling in an RV that got a flat tire, while two were in a GMC Sierra that was pulling a covered trailer full of music equipment.
The semi collided with both vehicles and the RV burst into flames.
Paul Zablidowsky posted an emotional message on Facebook in tribute to his late brother.
“A piece of our hearts has been taken from us today and we are figuring out how to deal with this as a family,” he wrote. “Please give us time and space to mourn and we will keep you posted when we can. Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers.”
The Brooklyn-born Zablidowsky brothers were profiled by the Daily News in 2009 and most recently in 2011, when they formed the Rock Asylum Foundation to provide free rock concerts to New York public schools in an effort to inspire children to succeed in their education.
“Because we don’t look like a kids band, I think that grabs the kids’ attention and works to our advantage,” David told The News at the time. “And let’s not forget that music is universal. When it’s used properly, it really forms the connection between inspiration and education.”
According to the Gainesville Sun, RV driver Jason McCloe, lead singer Russell Allen, sound man Rob Dressler, drummer Jordan Cannata, guitarist Mike Orlando, Janet Rains and Dale Campiglia were all seriously injured. The 59-year-old driver of the semi truck was not hurt.
It wasn’t the band’s first heartbreak — in 2015, drummer A.J. Pero died of a heart attack. A MOTORCYCLIST was killed Saturday afternoon after an unlicensed driver slammed into him on a Staten Island street, police said.
Michael Hines was headed south on Bay St. in Shore Acres when a red pickup truck driving northbound made a left turn and hit him near Fingerboard Road around noon, according to cops.
The truck driver, 65-year-old Jesus Santiago of Brooklyn, remained at the scene and was arrested for driving without a valid license, authorities said.
Medics rushed Hines to Staten Island University Hospital where he died, police said.
The 53-year-old Mariners Harbor man was a youth chaplain who had recently gotten married, grieving family members said.
Bob Hines, 54, said his brother was beloved by his family including his wife, daughter and two grandchildren.