March 12, 2025
Villages Resident Tom Baker Steps Up to Curb Drunk Driving with Free Rides Home
By Kyle Coppola
Villages Resident Tom Baker Steps Up to Curb Drunk Driving with Free Rides Home
THE VILLAGES, FL, – The Villages is a tight-knit community where neighbors look out for one another. It’s one of the top destinations to retire in the USA. But a string of recent golf-cart accidents has one man stepping up to make a difference. Tom Baker, the owner of Tom’s Airport Transport, is committed to the safety and well-being of his fellow residents. His mission became even more urgent after a tragic golf cart accident that claimed the life of a 60-year-old Kelly Novit on San Marino Drive in The Villages who fell out of a golf cart after the driver, Richard Allen Keil swerved to avoid a parked vehicle. Keil was arrested on a charge of DUI manslaughter. For Baker, this was the final straw.
(Sadly Kelly Novit recently passed away in a fatal golf-cart crash caused by drunk-driving. Novit was a passenger.)
“Living in The Villages, we are a close community, and things like this hit close to home,” Baker said. “One moment you’re out having fun, and then the next moment, your life is over. I feel for everyone involved in this horrific accident, and something needs to be done.” Baker has stated that he is willing to give FREE rides to anyone in The Villages who is intoxicated at no charge to them.
Baker is no stranger to helping others. He was an EMT in Boston during the early to mid-2000s, joining the field after 9/11 as a way to serve his community. “I was too old at that point to become a police officer or firefighter, so I decided to become an EMT. That time was incredible to be a part of—the country came together like no time I have ever seen, and I wanted to do what I could to help.”
In the mid-2010s, Baker transitioned to journalism and eventually moved to The Villages to work with The Villages Daily Sun. Last year, he started Tom’s Airport Transport to provide residents with a hassle-free way to get to the airport. However, after the recent tragedy in his neighborhood, he felt compelled to do more.
(Tom Baker is out to save lives and that is exactly what he plans to do in giving free-rides to those who are intoxicated in The Villages.)
“I am not doing this to promote my business or exploit her death in any way. I am doing this because something has to be done about it. If I can help get the word out and prevent another tragedy, I will. I am offering rides to those who may or seem intoxicated completely FREE of charge.” says Baker.
Baker urges residents who may be intoxicated—or who see someone who is—to make a simple phone call that could prevent another loss of life. That contact info is 352-425-6811 or email bakert571@gmail.com.
“The Villages is a very close community. Unless I am completely unavailable, I will come and give you a ride whenever I possibly can. What do I get out of it? It makes me feel good doing this. I’m not out to make money; I am out to prevent an accident like this from happening in the future.”
(Tom has been a driver for over 35-years and is as safe as they come. Here he is in 1995 driving a limo.)
Unfortunately, DUI-related accidents have occurred before and continue to be an issue. But with individuals like Baker stepping up, there is hope for change.
His commitment to service is rooted in the values instilled in him by his late mother, Marilyn, a career nurse practitioner in upstate New York. “She always told me, ‘Only judge what kind of person you are by what you are willing to do for other people.’ She passed away from colon cancer in 2019, but her words echo even today.”
With his mother’s spirit guiding him, Baker is determined to help as many people as possible. He also assures complete confidentiality to those who reach out for assistance.
“Anyone who calls me for a ride, I want them to know they are getting 100% confidentiality. I am not out to embarrass anyone—I am simply out to prevent a death from happening due to intoxicated driving. This is strictly confidential.”
To contact Tom Baker for a safe ride, call or text 352-425-6811 or email bakert571@gmail.com.
In a world where small acts of kindness can lead to big changes, Baker is proving that one person can truly make a difference.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
