Detectives say a DeLand woman is behind bars after she allegedly plowed into two pedestrians with a white Jeep Cherokee during Daytona Beach Bike Week on March 7, then took off instead of stopping. Both victims were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries, according to authorities, including a fractured skull and a broken leg.
How Detectives Tracked the Jeep
Witnesses did not just watch the Jeep speed away; they followed it and noted its Iowa license plate, investigators say. That tag number helped detectives identify Leandra Marie Williams in a photographic lineup, and the State Attorney’s Office later signed off on felony warrants. Detectives report they eventually spotted Williams behind the wheel of the still-damaged Jeep in DeLand and arrested her on May 6, ending what they describe as a weeks-long search. The vehicle was impounded as part of the investigation, according to FOX 35 Orlando.
Charges and Booking
Williams is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crash with injury. Volusia County booking records list a May 6 booking for Williams on those counts and show a $25,000 bond, according to county booking records.
Bike Week and Pedestrian Risks
Daytona Beach’s Bike Week pulls in heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic to Main Street and nearby side streets, and the Harvey and Wild Olive corridor is one of the stretches that sees some of the thickest foot traffic during the rally. The annual event also brings temporary road closures and extra enforcement because of the crowds, as detailed by ClickOrlando, which notes the concentration of riders and downtown activity.
What the Law Says
Under Florida law, leaving the scene of a crash that causes serious bodily injury is classified as a felony, according to the Florida Senate’s statute page. Legal guides also explain that a conviction can mean potential prison time and driver’s-license penalties, along with other collateral consequences beyond any criminal sentence, and they direct readers to the statute and legal overview for more detail.
Williams remains in custody while the State Attorney’s Office prepares formal charging paperwork, DeLand police said. According to FOX 35 Orlando, DeLand police provided the case details to local media, and investigators turned the Jeep over to Daytona Beach officers for further processing. Anyone with information is asked to contact DeLand police.
