A Saturday night walk along an Ormond Beach neighborhood street turned deadly when a driver ran a stop sign and slammed into one of two people at an intersection, killing the pedestrian at the scene, according to police.
Ormond Beach officers say the crash happened as two people were turning from Division Avenue onto South Orchard Street when a southbound vehicle failed to stop and struck one of them. Volusia County Emergency Medical Services pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The driver, identified by police as a 79-year-old, was not physically injured but was taken to a hospital for evaluation after showing symptoms consistent with dementia. The Ormond Beach Police Department says the crash is still under investigation.
What police say
According to WFTV, the collision happened shortly before 11 p.m. at the intersection of South Orchard Street and Division Avenue as the two pedestrians attempted to turn left from Division onto South Orchard. Police told the station the driver was traveling southbound at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at a posted stop sign before hitting one of the pedestrians.
Investigation and tip line
The victim’s name is being withheld until next of kin can be notified, and authorities have not said whether the driver will face criminal charges, according to FOX 35 Orlando.
Ormond Beach Police Capt. Chris Roos called the collision “a tragic loss of life” and urged drivers to obey posted limits and use extra caution at night. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Officer James Feeley at (386) 229-7162 or [email protected], per ClickOrlando.
Nighttime risks and safety
National data show pedestrian deaths are far more likely to happen after dark, and older adults are especially vulnerable to fatal injuries, a combination that makes visibility and speed control critical on local streets.
According to CDC figures, thousands of pedestrians are killed each year, with speed, location and alcohol among the major risk factors behind those deaths. Local police echoed those concerns in the wake of the Ormond Beach crash, underscoring what can be at stake when a driver blows through a simple stop sign.
