Attorney says Angelo Theodosiou was sober; arrest report cites signs of impairment after late-night crash.
NOCATEE, Fla. — A 64-year-old Nocatee man has been charged with driving under the influence after his wife was fatally injured in a golf cart crash late Nov. 30 near Recollection Drive and Dawes Avenue, according to an arrest report. His attorney said Thursday the husband was not impaired and did not cause the wreck.
The case centers on the death of Christina Theodosiou, 58, who investigators say fell from the moving cart and struck her head. Her husband, Angelo Theodosiou, was arrested on a DUI charge and refusal to submit to testing, according to the report. The crash has stirred grief in the master-planned community and renewed debate over golf cart safety on neighborhood streets. Prosecutors are reviewing the arrest while deputies gather additional witness statements and lab results, which could shape any upgraded charges or a defense challenge to the probable cause.
Deputies were called around 10:45 p.m. on Nov. 30 to the intersection of Recollection Drive and Dawes Avenue, where neighbors reported a golf cart crash involving two occupants. First responders found Christina with a severe head injury. She was airlifted in critical condition and later died, authorities said. In the hours after the crash, deputies noted that Angelo had bloodshot, watery eyes and an odor of alcohol. He was taken into custody in St. Johns County. “He is heartbroken,” defense attorney L. Lee Lockett said in a statement, adding his client maintains he was not impaired and disputes that his actions caused his wife’s fall.
The arrest report says the cart was being driven by Angelo with Christina riding as a passenger when it crashed, leading to her fall and fatal injury. Investigators noted an alcohol odor and other indicators, and recorded that the driver declined certain testing after his arrest. Deputies have not publicly detailed the cart’s speed, the exact maneuver before the fall or whether any road defects or objects played a role. Officials also have not released the make and model of the cart or whether seat belts were installed. Neighbors told reporters that speeding and risky golf cart use have been a persistent concern in that part of Nocatee. The Sheriff’s Office has not announced citations beyond the DUI and refusal count listed at booking.
Christina’s death is the latest in a series of Florida incidents drawing attention to golf cart safety on neighborhood roads that allow carts alongside cars. Florida law treats DUI on a golf cart the same as in a car, and investigators typically forward fatal cases to the State Attorney’s Office to evaluate evidence, including any blood tests, surveillance video and witness interviews. Records from prior cases show prosecutors consider visibility, roadway lighting and passenger positioning when deciding charges. In Nocatee, residents have previously pressed for stricter enforcement on cart paths and crossings as traffic has grown with new development.
Officials said the investigation remains active. Prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges, amend the counts or present the case to a grand jury if necessary. If a formal DUI manslaughter charge were considered, that step would likely follow receipt of toxicology findings and a reconstruction report. Any first appearance or arraignment date will set the procedural calendar, including discovery deadlines for dashcam or neighborhood camera footage. The Sheriff’s Office said it would release additional information when reports are complete and next of kin notifications are finalized for supplemental records.
Outside the neighborhood this week, small bouquets appeared near the intersection where the crash occurred. A few residents paused to talk quietly about Christina’s warmth and longtime ties to the community. “This has shaken everyone,” said a neighbor who gave only a first name, noting increased traffic after dark on nearby streets. Lockett said the family is focused on arrangements and mourning. “He lost his wife,” the attorney said. “The priority now is honoring her and ensuring the facts come out.”
As of Friday morning, authorities said the investigation is ongoing and further charging decisions could come after laboratory results are returned in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 5, 2025.