JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As police continue searching for a driver that they believe caused a crash early Sunday morning that killed three people, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office identified the two men and a woman from Nassau County who died when their car hit a tree and burst into flames.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office identified the victims Monday as John "Curtis" Carlisle Jr., 24, of Yulee, Jonathan "Kyle" Cassani, 23, of Yulee, and Allison Bushey, 21, of Fernandina Beach.
Traffic homicide detectives said a BMW was traveling west on Duval Station Road, just off North Main Street, about 2 a.m., when it was hit by a newer-model silver car, whose driver left the scene.
Two of the three victims were thrown from the car, and the third was pulled from the vehicle. All three died at the scene.
Devastated family members said the three were heading home from attending a UFC fight when their car was hit and sent off the road and into the tree.
Kyle Cassani's girlfriend is caring for his 7-month-old daughter. as she holds their 7-month-old daughter, who now doesn't have a father.
"I will make sure she knows who he is. ... He was just an amazing father," Katelynn Boucher said. "He worked a day job and went to school at night for us. He left at 5 in the morning and did not get home until 12. He was trying so hard, and he came a long way."
Cassani was with his best friend, Carlisle, a father of two, and Carlisle's girlfriend, Bushey.
The family hopes whoever knows what happened or whoever was involved has a heart and comes forward.
"I think if we knew what was going on, we knew what happened to him, it would be a lot better," said Lillian Pope, a family friend.
Detectives are asking for information about that other driver, hoping tips that could bring three families some answers.
News4Jax crime analyst Gil Smith said the driver could be hiding the vehicle, or trying to get it fixed.
"They are going to be relying on the public on this, to try to report any type of gray vehicle that has been missing for the past few days," Smith said.
Police said the car that caused the accident should have damage to the driver's side front end. Anyone with with information about the crash is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.