In a heartbreaking turn of events, a former Queens diner owner now retired in Florida faces DUI charges following a tragic accident that claimed his wife’s life. The incident occurred in Nocatee, a peaceful coastal community, where Angelo Theodosiou, 64, and his wife Christina, 58, were enjoying a ride in their golf cart late on November 30.
Tragedy unfolded when Christina Theodosiou fell from the golf cart, suffering a severe head injury upon impact with the pavement around 10:45 p.m. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Christina succumbed to her injuries the next day, as detailed in an arrest report obtained by Law & Crime.
Police observations from the scene highlighted Angelo Theodosiou’s apparent intoxication. His eyes appeared bloodshot and watery with a reddened sclera, while officers noted a strong smell of alcohol from a distance of about three feet. Despite the gravity of the situation, Angelo refused to undertake a standard field sobriety test and declined a breathalyzer test.
The day after the incident, authorities documented that Angelo seemed confused, repeatedly inquiring about the situation and the reasons for his arrest. This tragic incident serves as a somber reminder of the potential consequences of driving under the influence, even in seemingly benign settings like a golf cart ride in a quiet retirement community.
At the scene, a distraught Angelo Theodosiou refused to complete a standard field sobriety test. He also failed to submit to a breathalyzer test, according to the report.
Officials noted in the report that he was “repeatedly asked what was happening and why he was arrested” the following day.
Angelo Theodosiou’s lawyer, L. Lee Lockett, said that the widower is “heartbroken” and maintains his innocence that he wasn’t impaired the night of the accident.
“He’s distraught. He’s depressed as can be,” Lockett told the St. John’s Citizen.
Angelo Theodosiou was charged with driving under the influence and refusing to submit to police testing. He made bond and was released from jail the day after his arrest, according to Law and Crime.
Residents in the cozy retirement hotspot told the outlet that they figured a recently opened greenway path would be bound to cause an accident sooner or later, since it’s created more congestion. Some said they’d seen some recent near-miss collisions between golf carts and e-bikes.
Angelo Theodosiou previously owned the Jackson House Restaurant in Jackson Heights, Queens, according to a 2018 article written by students at the School of the New York Times.
He and his brother ran the restaurant, which retained its original name after they purchased the property in the 1990s. Under their leadership, Angelo Theodosiou told the students that they aimed to treat every customer like “family.”
“It might sound corny, but it’s really true,” he said.
It’s unclear when he retired and made the move to the Sunshine State.
