Details:
Criss Oliva, guitarist for the Tampa Bay-based national rock group Savatage, was killed in a car accident in Thonotosassa early Sunday morning. He was reportedly en route to watch the final day of the Livestock 4 rock festival in Zephyrhills - an event he and his band starred at in 1990 and 1991.
  According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Oliva, 30, a resident of Pinellas Park, and wife Dawn, were driving north on U.S. 301 around 3:30 a.m. Sunday when his 1982 mazda was struck by a car driven by Garth McName, who was driving the wrong way in an attempt to pass another car. Oliva was killed on impact.
  His wife was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where she remains in serious condition with a head injury and multiple trauma, hospital officials said. The driver of the other car, McName, also is in serious condition in Tampa General with a chest injury, hospital officials said.
  Savatage, formed 12 years ago in Tampa, has released six albums on the A&M label, including 1985's Power of the Night, and Edge of Thorns, and was featured for three months on MTV's Headbanger's Ball show in 1989.
  Oliva's death came just days before the band was to depart on tour with former Motley Crue singer Vince Neil, bass player Johnny Lee Middleton said. "I lost my best friend," said Middleton.
  "I could look across the street and see his house. The state trooper came to my door on Sunday morning, and it's been a disaster ever since. I don't think you'll ever hear us play any of his songs played again, at least by me. There's too much personal stuff involved," Middleton said.