RSSBike Week Attendee Causes Fatal Pedestrian Collision in Daytona Beach
A 38-year-old man from Texas is facing a first-degree murder charge this week after police determined that he purposely struck and killed a pedestrian at the intersection of North Nova Road and West International Speedway Boulevard last Saturday evening in Daytona Beach, according to video surveillance footage retrieved by local law enforcement officials from traffic cameras on the night of the deadly accident.
It was approximately 9 p.m. on March 21st, 2021, when officers with the Daytona Beach Police Department were first alerted and dispatched to the vicinity of North Nova Road and West International Speedway Boulevard in response to 9-1-1 calls referencing an auto accident involving a pedestrian. Witness affidavits indicate that the suspect, 38-year-old Anthony Adum, was driving his silver Hyundai at a high rate of speed near the busy intersection before one of his two passengers asked Adum to pull over into a Krispy Kreme parking lot so she could exit the car due to his dangerous and erratic behavior behind the wheel.
Almost immediately after leaving the popular donut shop, Adum proceeded to rapidly accelerate his vehicle closer to North Nova Road and West International Speedway Boulevard, driving over medians and running multiple red lights along the way. Daytona Beach traffic cam footage shows the Hyundai speeding into the intersection before sharply changing its collision course and heading directly towards an area where two pedestrians were sitting on a sidewalk bench. It was at this point that police say Adum “smashed the gas” and intentionally struck Christopher Watson. He was transported to a local hospital but did not survive the severity of his injuries and passed away shortly upon arrival. The other pedestrian was thankfully able to jump out of the way before the crash occurred.
Additionally, the other male passenger within the Hyundai was understandably shaken, but ultimately unharmed. Adum allegedly told him to “get out, get out” before the accident happened, but he was unable to safely do so.
“Based on the video, it appears that during the defendant’s first circular route in the intersection he was driving directly towards the victim, but another vehicle caused the defendant to slow down. This caused the defendant to make the 2nd circular route, which is when the defendant struck the victim with his vehicle with a premeditated design,” according to reports from the investigation by Daytona Beach detectives.
Sources:
- Driver intentionally runs over, kills man on sidewalk in Daytona Beach, police say
- Video shows driver intentionally running over, killing pedestrian in Daytona Beach, 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.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.