Accident – Death – Obituary News :
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (TND) — A man wanted for grand theft of a motor vehicle is facing a murder charge after he allegedly pushed a woman out of a pickup truck that police were chasing.
The Incident Unfolds
Daytona Beach police in Florida were on high alert when they learned Julio Angel Rivera was in a white GMC pickup truck two weeks ago, on Feb. 27, which took off when they tried to conduct a traffic stop.
Rivera’s arrest report said before long, “Units observed the rear driver side door of the GMC open as the vehicle continued fleeing.”
Then, as the pursuit continued, the driver made a left turn and “Units observed the victim fall out of the vehicle and impact the pavement on the south side of the road.”
The GMC continued “at a high rate of speed in wanton disregard for the safety of pedestrians and other motorists in the area.”
Police lost sight of the pickup but later found it abandoned, leading them to believe foul play was involved.
The Discovery
According to the arrest report, “It appeared the victim was forcefully pushed from the vehicle.”
Witnesses came forward, stating they saw “the victim in the backseat of the vehicle and that she appeared to be in distress.
“These residents stated that they could hear the victim screaming for help.”
Tragically, the victim, later identified as Gina Jennings, was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead, leaving a community in shock.
The Investigation
Eventually, units discovered the GMC abandoned and started looking for the handful of people believed to have been inside.
Police found some of them in a nearby home, shedding light on the events leading up to the horrific incident.
The arrest report detailed witness statements, painting a grim picture of what transpired inside the pickup truck that day.
The Arrest and Charges
Rivera, 45, was charged with second-degree murder, grand theft, driving with a suspended license, failure to obey law enforcement commands, resisting officers, battery, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Police also apprehended Michael Doudney, the owner of the pickup, and charged him with fleeing and eluding, while Jeremy First, 46, was arrested on an unrelated warrant from Orange County.
The community mourns the loss of Gina Jennings, and justice will be sought for the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful day in Daytona Beach.
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