A routine shift at a Daytona Beach Shores toll booth turned deadly Monday when a pickup truck blasted through a beach ramp booth and continued into the ocean at the Dunlawton Avenue on-ramp, killing the attendant inside. Rescue crews rushed in and tried life-saving measures, but the worker did not survive, and deputies quickly detained the driver as detectives opened a formal investigation.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened around 12:30 p.m. at the Dunlawton Avenue on-ramp, where the truck slammed through the staffed booth before ending up in the water. As reported by ClickOrlando, emergency responders attempted resuscitation on the toll worker, but the victim did not survive. Authorities have not yet released the attendant’s name.
Driver Detained as Beach Ramp Shut Down
Deputies detained the driver at the scene while crash investigators worked to piece together what happened, according to FOX 35 Orlando. The Dunlawton beach access ramp was closed following the crash and will stay shut until further notice. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office also posted condolences to the victim’s family on its social media channels.
How Volusia’s Beach Driving and Tolls Operate
Driving on marked sections of Volusia County beaches is allowed under the county’s ParkVolusia program, which relies on staffed toll booths at certain access points, including ramps like Dunlawton. The Volusia County Beach Driving and Parking page lays out daily fees, season pass rules, and details about the ParkVolusia app, which gives real-time ramp status updates for drivers heading to the sand.
Deadly History at the Dunlawton Beach Ramp
This is not the first deadly incident tied to that stretch of beach access. In 2014, a driver broke through a closed gate near the Dunlawton ramp and hit a pedestrian, killing a woman, as reported by ClickOrlando. That earlier case led to heightened scrutiny of ramp gates and enforcement of beach driving rules across Volusia’s coastline.
Detectives with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office are leading the latest investigation and have not announced any charges. Officials say they will release updates as the case moves forward. For current ramp conditions and official notices, residents and visitors can check the ParkVolusia site at ParkVolusia or follow the Volusia Sheriff’s Office information channels.
