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Man accused of fleeing scene after backing into, killing 1-year-old in Daytona Beach granted bond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The man accused of hitting and killing a 1-year-old boy with his car was granted bond Sunday by a Voluisa County judge.

Daytona Beach police said Earnest Ponder, 29, turned himself in Saturday after leaving the scene of the crash that killed Ar’myis Ford on Thursday.

Ponder’s family was inside the courtroom and asked the judge to grant him bond, which was set at $25,000.

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Police said the Ar’myis was running inside an apartment complex parking lot on Charles Street to his home for bath time around 9 p.m. when he was run over and killed.

Daytona Beach police Chief Craig Capri said Ponder got out of his car and saw he’d hit a child, then ran from the area.

Neighbors said the toddler, nicknamed "Peanut," bolted behind Ponder's moving car.

Capri said Ponder is facing charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and driving with a suspended license during a fatal accident.

Ar’myis family said they're now trying to raise money to bury the toddler and move on in peace.

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