On October 17, 1993, Criss Oliva from Savatage and his wife Dawn were driving north on Highway 301 on their way to the Fourth Annual Livestock Festival held in Zephyrhills, Florida. An oncoming car operated by a drunk driver crossed the median and struck Oliva’s car head-on. Dawn survived the crash, but Oliva was killed instantly. The drunk driver, who had seven prior drunk driving (DUI) convictions, survived with minor injuries and was later found guilty of DUI manslaughter, DUI serious injury and vehicular homicide, and served 18 months in prison of a five-year sentence.

Oliva’s grave can be seen at Curlew Hills Memorial Gardens in Palm Harbor, Florida. The inscription on the tomb is the lyrics from Believe: “I’ll be right there I’ll never leave All I ask is Believe.”

ADDRESS:
1750 Curlew Rd, Palm Harbor, FL 34683, USA

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