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Wrong-way driver charged in crash that killed 70-year-old Volusia County woman

By Charles Frazier, WFTV.com

Wrong-way driver charged in crash that killed 70-year-old Volusia County woman Jay Smith, 28, charged with vehicular homicide and DUI causing death.

By Charles Frazier, WFTV.com

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Pierson man was arrested Tuesday, months after investigators determined he was driving drunk when he caused a crash that killed a 70-year-old woman.

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The crash happened on August 13 shortly after 11:30 p.m. on State Road 44 near the intersection with Taganana Drive.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Volusia County deputies arrived on the scene to find a head-on crash involving a Kia Optima and a Toyota Sienna. Both drivers had already been taken to Halifax Health Medical Center with critical injuries.

The driver of the Sienna, identified as 70-year-old Diane Marshal, died at the hospital hours later.

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After speaking to witnesses and reviewing evidence at the crash scene, investigators determined that the Optima had been traveling westbound on State Road 44 in the eastbound lanes just before the crash, and collided with the Sienna head-on at more than 70 miles-per-hour.

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Bystanders who stopped to help reported that the driver of the Optima, identified as 28-year-old Jay Smith, admitted to them that he had been drinking that night. They also said they could smell alcohol on his breath.

According to FHP, an analysis of Smith’s blood indicated the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis.

An analysis of Marshal’s blood also tested positive for alcohol, but troopers concluded that Smith caused the crash, leading to Marshal’s death.

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Smith was arrested Tuesday on charges of vehicular homicide and DUI resulting in a death.

He’s being held in the Volusia County jail on a total of $50,000 bond.

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