ELIZABETH PIZZONIA, DUI – KILLED CYCLIST
ELIZABETH PIZZONIA WAS DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED AND KILLED 61 YEAR OLD LOUIS OSIEL
BY RUTHIE DITUCCI
Tragic Hit-and-Run in Ocala: Drunk Driver Kills Cyclist, Faces DUI Manslaughter Charges. Family was not notified until 11 days had passed!
OCALA, Fla. — A night of reckless driving ended in tragedy on January 7, 2024, when 43-year-old Elizabeth Pizzonia, allegedly intoxicated, struck and killed 61-year-old cyclist Louis Osiel on a sidewalk in northwest Ocala. The fatal collision, followed by Pizzonia’s brief flight from the scene, has left the community reeling and sparked outrage over the dangers of drunk driving. Pizzonia now faces charges of DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crash with a death, as authorities piece together the events that led to Osiel’s untimely death.
The Fatal Crash
According to the Ocala Police Department, the incident occurred around 6:35 p.m. on the 3100 block of Northwest Blitchton Road, near Interstate 75. Osiel, who was not a local resident, was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk when Pizzonia, driving a Mini Cooper, veered off the roadway for reasons still under investigation. The vehicle struck the curb, mounted the sidewalk, and collided with Osiel, dragging his bicycle along the road. Osiel sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police evidence technicians documented tire tracks on the sidewalk, corroborating that Pizzonia’s vehicle left the roadway. The bicycle was not recovered, likely due to the force of the impact or its entanglement with the car. Authorities have struggled to locate Osiel’s family, adding to the tragedy of his loss.
Pizzonia’s Arrest and Signs of Impairment
Pizzonia initially fled the scene, leaving Osiel behind. She later claimed to police that she “knew she hit something but wasn’t sure what it was” and panicked, prompting her to drive away. After calling her brother, who urged her to return, Pizzonia was intercepted by Marion County Sheriff’s deputies in Ocala Park Estates before she could fully return to the crash site.
Officers immediately noted signs of impairment. Ocala Police Officer William Joedicke reported that Pizzonia’s speech was slurred, her eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and she emitted a strong odor of alcohol. She admitted to consuming mimosas at lunchtime earlier that day.
During field sobriety tests, Pizzonia performed poorly, swaying, stopping movements, and failing to follow instructions. Dashcam footage captured her struggling with the alphabet, mistakenly reciting “Q, Y, X, Y, Z,” and repeatedly moving her head despite instructions to keep it still.
Pizzonia refused both a voluntary blood sample and a required breath test, further complicating the investigation. Police later obtained a warrant for a blood sample, though it was taken hours after the crash, potentially affecting its evidentiary value. She was arrested and booked into Marion County Jail on charges of DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crash with a death.
Court Proceedings and Bail Controversy
On January 9, 2024, Pizzonia appeared before County Judge Tommy Thompson. Assistant State Attorney Madison Kirkland argued for no bail, citing the severity of the charges and Pizzonia’s flight from the scene. However, her attorney, Andy Pozzuto of Alavi & Pozzuto, countered that Pizzonia had no prior criminal record, was a long-time Ocala resident, and worked as a horse trainer with strong community ties. Pozzuto noted that Pizzonia had contacted law enforcement and was returning to the scene when stopped, as advised by a dispatcher.
Judge Thompson set bail at $100,000, with conditions that Pizzonia refrain from alcohol consumption and driving if released. Pozzuto stated that her family was arranging transportation to and from her job. Initially held without bond, Pizzonia’s bail adjustment sparked debate, with prosecutors emphasizing the public safety risk posed by her actions.
Pizzonia’s next court hearing, a pre-trial conference, was scheduled for April 2024. As of the latest reports, no trial date or plea updates have been publicized, and the case remains active.
Community Impact and Broader Context
The death of Louis Osiel marked Ocala’s first traffic fatality of 2024, following 10 such deaths in 2023. The incident has reignited discussions about road safety, particularly for cyclists, and the devastating consequences of impaired driving. Ocala Police emphasized Pizzonia’s impairment in a Facebook post, noting her “bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the smell of alcohol on her breath” as clear indicators of intoxication.
Local media, including WESH, WCJB, and ClickOrlando, covered the story extensively, highlighting the tragedy’s preventability. “The bicyclist appeared to be riding on the sidewalk, evidence on the scene supports he was on the sidewalk, when he was struck,” Officer Joedicke told WESH, underscoring that Osiel was in a designated safe space for pedestrians and cyclists.
The case also draws parallels to other recent DUI-related cycling fatalities. For instance, in San Antonio, Bella Dae Garza was sentenced to 12 years for killing 18-year-old cyclist Emilian Ramirez while intoxicated, and in San Mateo County, Samantha Mei Hartwell faced murder charges for a 2022 crash that killed cyclist Thomas Hampe. These incidents highlight a troubling pattern of preventable deaths caused by drunk drivers.
Ongoing Investigation and Unanswered Questions
While the Ocala Police Department has established Pizzonia’s impairment and flight from the scene, several questions remain. The exact reason for her vehicle veering onto the sidewalk is unclear, with the police report noting she “swerved to the right for an unknown reason.” The delayed blood sample may complicate proving her blood alcohol level at the time of the crash, potentially affecting the prosecution’s case. Additionally, the failure to recover Osiel’s bicycle and difficulties in contacting his family add layers of complexity to the investigation.
As the case progresses, Osiel’s death serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of impaired driving. The Ocala community, still grappling with the loss, awaits justice for a man whose life was cut short on a quiet Sunday evening.
Sources: Ocala Police Department
