Daytona Beach Man Killed in Hit-and-Run Accident During Police Chase

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on September 1, 2020

According to preliminary collision reports from the Daytona Beach Police Department, an innocent man was fatally injured in a hit-and-run accident on August 30^th, 2020, during a high-speed chase between local authorities and a suspect who allegedly failed to pull over after running a stop sign.

It was approximately 9:00 a.m. this past Sunday morning when officers with the Daytona Beach Police Department first came into contact with 31-year-old Nyshon J. Bennett, the driver of a black Chevy Malibu who had just driven through a stop sign at the intersection of Cedar Street and South Caroline Street. For reasons that are currently unclear, Bennett did not pull his car over to the side of the road when pursuing officers illuminated their emergency vehicle lighting. Instead, he dramatically increased his speed as he drove toward the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and South Street with officers quickly closing in on his location. Sadly, 50-year-old Daniel J. Ruddell Jr. was also approaching the same area in his Acura. It was at this time that Bennett ignored an upcoming red traffic light and crashed his Malibu directly into the driver’s side door of the Acura. The force of the side-impact collision was so powerful that it sent the Acura careening off the road, violently crashing into a tree and a telephone pole before finally coming to a stop. Bennett’s Malibu eventually came to a rest after crashing into three additional parked vehicles in the vicinity.

Immediately following the aftermath of this deadly hit-and-run accident, Daytona Beach emergency response teams rushed to the scene to assist any injured victims. Upon arrival, it was discovered that Daniel J. Ruddell Jr. had been mortally wounded in the incident and had already passed away from his injuries. Nyshon J. Bennett, who had to be cut out of his car, was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

Detectives with the Daytona Beach Police Department are currently investigating this tragic auto accident, but have informed local news outlets that multiple charges will be brought against the suspect once their investigation has concluded.

Sources:

• Man fleeing traffic stop hits, kills another driver in Daytona Beach, police say
• 1 killed, 1 critically injured following Daytona Beach crash, police say

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.