UPDATED: One Dead In Fatal Crash On Stone Street

Date Added: February 01, 2017 9:25 am

Sergeant Chris C. Estes
Professional Standards and Public Information Officer
386-626-7417  -office
386-740-6842  - fax
estesc@deland.org

Updated: 

The victim in this morning's crash has been identified as Justin L. Johnson, 26,  (DOB: 07/02/1990), Lake Helen

 

 

ONE DEAD IN FATAL CRASH ON STONE STREET

Around 2:50 a.m. a taxi driver called for police assistance reporting that he had a female passenger and that they were being followed by the women’s boyfriend. The driver was in the process of driving the women to Florida Hospital DeLand and there were indications of some type of disturbance. A DeLand officer was dispatched and spotted the Taxi, and what was understood to be the boyfriend’s vehicle, following it, at Plymouth Ave. and Woodland Blvd.

The officer conducted a traffic stop in the vicinity of Plymouth Ave. and Orange Ave. on this vehicle which matched the description provided, A white Chevrolet Sport Utility, to investigate what was occurring. At this point there weren’t many details. The vehicle stopped and the male driver acknowledged he was arguing with his girlfriend. As the investigation proceeded suspected drugs were in plain view inside the SUV at which time the driver was asked to exit the vehicle. Officer Tony Tagle began to assist the driver out of the vehicle when the driver started the engine.  The driver pulled the door shut and Officer Tagle’s hand was trapped. He was then dragged several feet before freeing himself. The officer suffered an injury to his left hand. The vehicle sped away.

Around 2:57 a.m., another DeLand officer was responding from W. Beresford Ave. traveling north on S. Stone St. when he came upon a crash scene in the 100 block of South Stone St. A small fire in the engine compartment was extinguished. It was the determined the driver, and a dog, had died in the crash. The vehicle was determined to be the same that fled from Officer Tagle.

An investigation is ongoing. The driver has not been positively identified. We are working to make a positive identification and notify next of kin.  Additional details will be released as they come available. The officer was treated at the hospital for his hand injury and released.