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HomeCrimeGainesville man arrested for DUI after allegedly hitting a motorcyclist who sustained life-threatening injuries

Gainesville man arrested for DUI after allegedly hitting a motorcyclist who sustained life-threatening injuries

August 18, 2023

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Timothy Anthony Muscarella, 54, was arrested last night and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) with serious bodily injury to another person and DUI with property damage after allegedly hitting a motorcyclist who sustained life-threatening injuries.

At about 8:30 p.m. last night, a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper responded to a crash at SE Hawthorne Road and SE 45th Terrace. Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies were already on scene and advised the trooper that the driver of a Kia Soul was possibly under the influence. The Kia, driven by Muscarella, had reportedly collided with a motorcycle, and the motorcyclist sustained life-threatening injuries.

The trooper reported that Muscarella was “very emotional” and had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Post Miranda, Muscarella reportedly said he was coming from his house and that he’d had two or three drinks in the afternoon.

Muscarella reportedly performed poorly on the field sobriety exercises and was placed under arrest. He reportedly refused to submit a sample for a breath test.

Muscarella has two felony convictions (two violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (none violent). He has a prior DUI conviction from 2008. He has served one state prison term for robbery and was released in 2003. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $40,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

  • That could have been me. Thank God I stopped drinking before I killed someone while driving drunk.

    Such an avoidable tragedy. I sincerely hope the motorcyclist recovers.

    • I lost my twin today. He took my twin from me 😭😭😭

  • I am so mad right now you already had one DUI one two or three drinks sir you should have not been driving he’s like a son to me from another mother and father I am angry give him the book father please take this hatred at my heart please father

  • Driving drunk is no different that shooting a gun into the air sooner or later someone will get killed

  • Very sad situation.
    So unfortunate.
    This individual has so many ppl that love him.
    Praying for the entire family.

  • The Same. I done the interlock breath device myself for 2 consecutive years. It was a pain in the a$$, at the time, but it made me a believer. 😇
    That was years ago. I don’t know either of the two parties involved, but will pray for them.
    In DUI class, again years ago, I had to watch very horrific videos, containing contents of unedited FHP body cam footage with little if any pixilation.
    The worst I’ve ever seen contained the first responders view of a DUI motorcyclist who ran through an intersection in rural Baker County, and collided with a small 4 door sedan. T-boned into the driver’s side front door, running better of 130mph according to the FHP troopers at the scene. The motorcyclist riding on one of those “crotch rockets” was instantly decapated. The momentum carried the motorcycle itself through the front of the vehicle laterally, instantly killing the driver, and a 7 year old child in the right front seat of the sedan. A younger child in the right rear of the sedan survived with moderate injuries, and the video I seen showed “most” of it.
    You won’t find footage like that on “you tube”.
    I both plead, and pray for anyone who thinks they can drink a few and drive, don’t. Please don’t. In an instant, lives can be taken, and there is simply no reason for it. 😥😥😥

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