Psycho with cancelled license, superspeeds, hits tree, kills self and splits car in half

Thank god this public menace is dead.

Speeding Car Splits In Half On Impact With Tree

POSTED: 7:18 am EST December 22, 2005 UPDATED: 12:23 pm EST December 22, 2005

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A car was speeding through Dr. Phillips so fast early Thursday morning, it split in half when it crashed into a tree. The driver of the car was end in the crash on Darlene Drive, just east of Apopka-Vineland.

Investigators said the car, after impact with the tree, spun around and ended up on the other side of the tree. The crash has even veteran troopers shaking their heads.

It looked like two different cars after the crash, but the Acura was literally cut in two when it slammed into a tree at what troopers call extremely high speed.

The driver, 22-year-old Daniel Canterini, died on impact. He lived just a few blocks away. Three days before Christmas, his family learned of the crash before the wreckage could even be cleared away.

Channel 9 has learned Canterini was not supposed to be behind the wheel. According to state records, his driver's license was cancelled in September when he failed to complete a substance abuse clbutt after a DUI case.

But as wreckers cleared away what was left of his Acura, all anyone could talk about was the tragedy on a stretch of road where neighbors said they'd seen at least three bane crashes in the past decade.

"It's just tragic for the family because now they have that loss," said neighbor Nancy Kirsch.

The impact was so severe, it split a heavy, solid metal disc brake in half.

Meanwhile, Canterini did have a pbuttenger, 21-year-old Steven Ptashnik. He was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medica Center, but miraculously, his injuries were so minor he's already home from the hospital.