An investigation is now complete into the death of a four-year-old British girl in a beach driving crash in March. The driver, Barbara Worley, of Elberton, Georgia, accidentally stuck Ellie Bland of Nottingham, England, March 20. Investigators now say she will not be charged because she was not at fault. The traffic homicide investigation took six months to complete.
Investigators conclude that the little girl ran in front of traffic and caused her own death on the beach.
Daytona is one of the few beaches in Florida that allows cars to travel on the sand. On that day, Ellie was walking and holding the hand of her great-uncle. They were trying to cross the driving lane. Worley showed some hesitation when she saw the pedestrians, but when she was yelled at by other drivers, she hit the accelerator and accidentally ran over the child.
So far this year, two young children have been killed in beach driving accidents in Volusia County. Another child, Aiden Patrick of Deltona, was killed on New Smyrna Beach in July. Beach driving is a tradition in Daytona that is reconsidered every time there is a tragic accident. In the last five years, more than 40 people have been hit by vehicles on the beach and half of those injuries have been serious.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident with a motor vehicle on or off the beach, the experienced Florida pedestrian accident attorneys at Farah and Farah will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation on your case.
