Image
Deputies 'looking for' suspect in fatal Volusia toll booth crash after she was released from Baker Act, sheriff says

Deputies 'looking for' suspect in fatal Volusia toll booth crash after she was released from Baker Act, sheriff says

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Tuesday night that his sheriff's office was "looking for" the woman accused of killing a beach toll booth worker on Monday, confirming she had just been released from a Baker Act."Out looking for her. We have an arrest warrant for vehicular homicide," Chitwood told WESH 2 News via text. >>Video below: Chaos after truck slams into toll booth, killing woman inside Deanna Harrell, 35, of Ormond Beach, is accused of crashing into a toll booth at a Volusia County beach on Monday and killing the person inside, 62-year-old Tammie Jo Baker. The sheriff's office released surveillance and bodycam video Tuesday showing the crash and deputies' response to it. Baker was seen on camera entering the booth just moments before a pickup truck traveling eastbound on Dunlawton Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores crashed into it. "Thirty-five seconds after our victim enters the booth, she's dead," Chitwood said. "(...) At the end of the day, this investigation is about one thing. It's about making sure that Tammie Jo Baker gets justice."Multiple people called 911 before the crash, reporting a reckless driver who was swerving and nearly hitting several other cars, according to Chitwood. "There's a drunk driver, black Chevy truck going down Peninsula at Dunlawton at the time being, with a Pennsylvania license plate," one caller said. "Almost hit several cars, ran into a mailbox, ran into a trash can, making a U-turn in the middle of Peninsula, tried to pass two separate times, driving down the wrong side of the road."The sheriff said Harrell had been at work that morning — at Boogie Down Golf Carts & Bicycles in Daytona Beach Shores — but was sent home because it was slow, adding she lives in a state park. She then went to a lounge where she had several drinks, according to Chitwood.Chitwood said he could smell alcohol inside Harrell's vehicle, which had come to rest in the ocean water.Harrell was taken into custody under a Baker Act after allegedly making comments about taking her own life, but Chitwood confirmed Tuesday night that she had been released without being turned over to the sheriff's office."Of course. Would you expect anything less from the system," he said. A GoFundMe that was created on Baker's behalf can be found by clicking here. >> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released

Leave a Comment