Police make arrest in fatal Daytona Beach hit-and-run

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach police said they arrested the driver of a stolen car who hit and killed a single mother of a 3-year-old girl.

Laguadia Terry was killed Sunday night in a crash at the corner of Madison Avenue and White Street in Daytona Beach.

Terry's friend, Sterling Slaton, 26, told Channel 9's Kathi Belich that he is hurting physically and emotionally.

Slaton, who was with Terry when she died, said he doesn't remember the crash that killed her. He said he just remembers the moments they shared just before the accident.

"We were laughing. I looked at her and she looked at me grinning. And that was it. That's all I remember, a beautiful young lady," said Slaton.

Slaton has a broken collarbone, broken ribs and cuts all over his body.

"My heart goes out to Laguadia and her family. I just hate that she's gone," said Slaton.

Slaton said he worked with Terry, who had just completed her nursing training.

Police said they believe that Shane Cruz sped through the intersection in a stolen car, possibly without his headlights on when he hit the car carrying Slaton and Terry.

Police said Cruz was in the middle of a 5-year license suspension as a habitual traffic offender.

He was arrested Wednesday morning at an unrelated court hearing after one of his passengers went to police.

"I feel bad that another black man is caught up with the system," said Slaton.

He said he hopes that Cruz can turn things around in his life, even if he goes to prison for the crash.

Police said the air bags deployed in the stolen car and they're hoping DNA evidence show that Cruz was behind the wheel.

WFTV