DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -
A 22-year-old female bicyclist was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash early Wednesday. Hours later, a 24-year-old man was arrested at his mother's home, believed to be the driver in that fatal incident.
Volusia County authorities say Susan E. Thompson, 22, was struck and ejected from her bike at about 2 a.m. near South Oleander Avenue and International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach.
After gathering witness accounts, investigators began looking for a dark-colored Nissan SUV that was missing the passenger-side mirror with possible damage to the right-front side.
Daytona Beach police later found a full-sized SUV matching the description, belonging to Robert Johnson, just in the condition as witnesses described. Johnson was arrested, charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death.
Thompson was declared dead at the scene. The crash closed
International Speedway Boulevard from South Peninsula Drive to South
Grandview Avenue for hours.
We spoke with Thompson's mother Wednesday evening, who said she is living a nightmare.
"Imagine if it was your child that was
taken from you like this," said Thompson's mother, Barb. "You get up in
the morning and the cop shows up at your door and says, 'I'm so sorry
your child was killed last night.' It's not easy. It's not easy at
all, and I know it's going to last for a long time, and I'm going to be
crying and wishing she was here."
Johnson is expected to make a first appearance before a judge on Thursday afternoon.
