A drunk driver accused of barreling through a toll booth, killing the employee inside, and fleeing towards a Florida beach has been arrested.
A drunk driver accused of barreling through a toll booth, killing the employee inside, and fleeing towards a Florida beach has been arrested, according to the
A viral video of the wrecked vehicle driving across Daytona Beach has gone viral on social media.
Investigators said a pickup truck slammed into the toll booth Monday afternoon. Tragically, the worker involved began her shift seconds before the fatal crash.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said 35-year-old Deanna Harrell had been drinking at a bar before the crash.
Later that evening, authorities stated that 911 callers reported a drunk driver cruising near the shoreline.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Deanna Harrell is now in custody with warrants for vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.
The sheriff's office released surveillance and bodycam video Tuesday showing the crash and the deputies' response.
The victim, 62-year-old Tammie Jo Baker, was seen on camera entering the booth moments before a pickup truck plowed through it.
"I think she was probably close to being killed on impact," Chitwood said. "That booth isn't made of anything, if you look at it. And you hit that thing at 40 miles an hour; there's really nowhere to go. And it flipped the booth around, the force of that."
"At 12:38, she enters that booth. At 12:40, she's dead. Then at 12:39, EMS is on location," Chitwood added.
Chitwood said Baker was killed roughly 35 seconds after entering the booth.
On Tuesday, a vigil was held at the beach access ramp where Baker was working.
Loved ones gathered at the beach to honor Baker, bringing flowers, including sunflowers from her garden, and sharing memories of her life, ABC 7 reported.
"Our job is to build a case to make sure that Tammie Jo and her family get justice," he said.
