A Daytona Beach teenager who was seriously hurt after he was struck by a vehicle while riding his skateboard has passed away from his injuries.
The 15-year-old male lost his life at Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando on Saturday (March 27, 2021), a day after he was airlifted there from Halifax Health Medical Center (HHMC) in Daytona Beach.
Paramedics took the teen to HHMC as a trauma alert from the scene of the accident, which happened just after 11:30 p.m. Friday (March 26, 2021).
Officers with the Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) arrived on scene at the intersection of Madison Avenue & White Street soon after emergency dispatchers received a call for help, finding the teen lying on the road.
Members of DBPD’s Traffic Homicide Unit arrived on scene shortly afterward to process for evidence and speak to witnesses.
Investigators think the front of a black 2009 Dodge Journey struck the skateboarder as both attempted to cross the intersection. The van was heading east on Madison while the skateboarder was going north on White.
Detectives believe the van driver had the green light at the time of the crash and that the red lights were in effect for traffic on White. It also appears that the skateboarder was wearing dark-colored clothing and may have had headphones over his ears when he was struck by the van.
No injuries were reported by the driver of the van – a 41-year-old Daytona Beach man – at the time of the accident. The sole passenger in the van – a 31-year-old Daytona Beach woman – also did not report any injuries.
The van was towed from the scene by DBPD for evidence processing.
The van driver stayed on scene after calling 911 and cooperated with investigators.
The investigation is ongoing. Charges will be determined once it is complete.