Woman wrongfully arrested in deadly I-4 crash speaks out after charges dropped

A 23-year-old woman who spent 13 days in jail after being wrongfully arrested in connection with a deadly crash on Interstate 4 is speaking out about her ordeal as newly obtained court documents describe the investigation leading to who troopers now say was responsible.Lindsey Isaacs was arrested in April after the Florida Highway Patrol accused her of being behind the wheel of a black Dodge Durango that caused a crash on I-4 near mile marker 108 in Volusia County on Oct. 4, 2025. The crash killed three people: motorcyclist Joaquin Deno, Flagler County Deputy Administrator Jorge Salinas, and his wife, Nancy Salinas. Isaacs faced eight charges, including three counts of leaving the scene of a crash with death, vehicular homicide, and reckless driving causing serious injury, according to the arrest report. On Friday, more than a month after her arrest, the state attorney's office in Volusia County dropped all charges against her. "Being incarcerated, falsely incarcerated, in jail, in G Block, was the worst 13 days in my life," Isaacs said Saturday at the Volusia County Courthouse. Her attorney, Patrick McGeehan, said his team used time-distance analysis to prove Isaacs could not have been at the crash scene when the collision occurred. According to the arrest report, troopers cited a Flock license plate reader camera that captured Isaacs' tag traveling eastbound on I-4 at the Seminole/Volusia County line at 9:51 p.m., approximately 3 miles west of the crash scene. The crash occurred at about 9:53 p.m. "In our investigation, we took that distance, the speed of travel, and we were able to determine that Ms. Isaacs was well past the accident scene when the accident occurred," McGeehan said. Troopers also claimed in the arrest report that they "observed what appears to be 'smudge or rub marks' in the area(s) where the fresh damage was located on the Durango, appearing that it was attempted to be cleaned or wiped away." They also stated, "The height of these observed smudges or rub marks are also consistent with the Durango sideswiping a motorcycle." But McGeehan said photos of the vehicle in storage disproved those claims. "This is a 2025 Dodge Durango that is black, and it is absolutely immaculate as it was the day she drove it off the showroom floor. There was absolutely no damage to Lindsay Isaacs' vehicle," McGeehan said. "As soon as we did the vehicle inspection in this case, we knew she was innocent. It was just a matter of convincing the state attorney." When asked about FHP's handling of the investigation, McGeehan did not mince words. "It's something we've seen before. This is probably the worst example I've seen," he said. Isaacs said she is seeking therapy after the experience and hopes time will heal the pain she suffered. "I feel there's really no way of fixing what they did to me. It will always hurt me. My reputation was ruined. I'm still receiving death threats and hate. It's very hard," Isaacs said. FHP told WESH 2 News the investigation is ongoing and that, based on new evidence, another woman has been arrested in connection with the crash. Alisa Lee Montalvo, 47, of Deltona, was arrested Friday on nine charges, including three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of leaving the scene of a crash with death, leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury, reckless driving and tampering with evidence. New court documents obtained Saturday by WESH 2 News allege Montalvo was driving a maroon 2021 Dodge Durango in the crash. A witness who called the Volusia County Sheriff's Office that night reported the suspect vehicle was maroon and provided the first three digits of a license-plate number that was later found to be consistent with Montalvo's Durango, according to Montalvo's arrest affidavit. "(The witness) stated he was traveling eastbound on Interstate 4 in the far-left lane when he observed a group of bikers coming on from the entrance ramp," the affidavit states. "(The witness) stated a maroon Durango was right behind the bikers. He stated it appear the maroon Durango was mad at them possibly like road rage. (The witness) stated the bikes cut in front of him as the maroon Durango came up next to him in the center lane. (The witness) stated the maroon Durango then cut him off and made him back off a little. (The witness) stated he began to memorize the tag, just in case something happens because of her aggressive driving. (The witness) stated the bikes and the maroon (Durango) took off at a higher rate of speed. (The witness) indicated at one point this maroon Durango was swerving across all three lanes and at one point drove off the road to the left onto the shoulder almost striking the guardrail. As he continued he lost (sight) of the bikers and the maroon Durango in front of a larger truck. Immediately he saw brakes lights and vehicles traveling off the road and knew a crash just happened and the maroon Durango caused the entire crash." It was further found that, after the crash, Montalvo allegedly had her driver-side doors replaced, as well as that red or maroon paint was found on the damaged areas of the Ford Focus that Isaacs was initially accused of striking with a black Durango. Isaacs' attorney said they are pursuing all legal avenues regarding her wrongful arrest. Isaacs still faces a civil case filed by the families of the victims, but McGeehan expects that will be dropped now that her criminal charges have been dismissed.