Daytona Beach Shores Tragedy: Florida woman detained after pickup crashes into toll booth, killing attendant before driving into ocean

A Florida woman was detained on Monday (June 1, 2026) after authorities say she drove a pickup truck into a toll booth on Dunlawton Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores, killing the attendant inside before continuing onto the beach and into the ocean. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened around 12:40 p.m. on June 1. The booth was occupied at the time, and the attendant, identified by NBC 6 South Florida as Tammy Jo Baker, died from her injuries despite rescue efforts.

Deputies confirmed the driver, identified as Deanna Harrell of Ormond Beach, has been detained, WESH reported, citing Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. Investigators continued the efforts to determine the cause. According to the outlet, Chitwood said Harrell “is in custody under Florida’s Baker Act,” a law that permits individuals to be held for up to 72 hours for a mental health evaluation.




The Dunlawton beach access ramp will remain closed until further notice. In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office extended condolences to Baker’s family, friends, and coworkers, calling the incident a “tragic loss of life.” Sheriff Mike Chitwood noted Baker was just weeks away from her 63rd birthday. After striking the booth, officials said, the truck continued onto the sand and into the ocean.

Video captured on the beach and reported by WKMG shows the pickup truck moving across the sand before plunging into the water, where it eventually came to a stop. An image released by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office depicts the pickup truck with its front end heavily damaged from the crash.

The tragic crash prompted authorities to close the beach ramp "until further notice," according to the sheriff's office. Authorities further noted that the "driver has been detained as a thorough crash investigation is conducted."

Speaking to reporters, Chitwood said that witnesses alleged that the female driver of the truck tried to flee but became stuck in the sand. "The suspect in this case, she's being tested for impairment; we're gonna do a blood draw and a breathalyzer on her and see what charges stem from that," Chitwood said, as quoted by NBC 6. "I can just tell you being up at the truck, there's a heavy odor; for me, a heavy odor of alcohol you could smell from the passenger side of the vehicle."