Florida woman’s slow day at work ends with her allegedly taking out a tollbooth and the worker in it

Florida resident Deanna Harrell will remain in jail without bond following a judge’s order issued on Thursday regarding a fatal crash at a Volusia County beach entrance.

Per Fox 35, the 35-year-old faces serious charges, including DUI causing death and vehicular homicide, in relation to an incident on Daytona Beach Shores that claimed the life of 63-year-old toll booth worker Tammy Jo Baker.

According to Court TV, on Monday morning, because of slow business and poor weather, Harrell was instructed to close early. She is alleged to have left her job at a golf cart and bicycle rental shop early and then headed to a local lounge, where she consumed multiple alcoholic drinks. 

Starting at 12:29 PM, 911 received multiple calls about a driver in a Chevrolet truck who was driving dangerously. Despite the urgency of these reports, deputies were unable to intercept the vehicle. The collision itself reportedly happened at 12:38 PM. Per Court TV, Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood noted the tragic timing of the event during a press conference, stating, “Our victim, Tammie Jo Baker, entered that booth at 12:38:05. At 12:40, she’s dead.”

Law enforcement reports paint a picture of severely reckless driving

Court records and law enforcement reports claim Harrell drank two rum and Coke cocktails and part of a shot over the span of an hour. Further, during questioning with the police, she allegedly admitted to officers that she poured out a portion of a Gatorade bottle, filled it with vodka, and continued drinking before getting behind the wheel.

The 911 calls from concerned motorists, which are allegedly attributed to her, start with witness reports of a Chevy truck that was swerving. A couple reported that the vehicle ran over a mail box, hit a trash can, and then drove on the wrong side of the road before nearly hitting their vehicle. A second caller stated that “She was heading straight for us,” describing a blonde driver who was “all over the road.” 

During the press conference, Sheriff Chitwood said that Harrell was traveling at approximately 40 mph when she struck the booth. He also remarked on the vulnerability of the structure, saying, “I think she was close to probably being killed on impact. I mean, that booth isn’t made of anything.”

After striking the toll booth, surveillance video shows the vehicle continuing onto the beach and into the ocean, where it eventually became stuck in the sand. Lifeguards attempted to assist the victim immediately, but their efforts were unfortunately unsuccessful. When authorities arrived, Sheriff Chitwood reported that he could smell alcohol on the suspect and inside the vehicle. 

Harrell was taken into custody at the scene, though she was initially held for a mental health evaluation after reportedly expressing a desire to take her own life. Body camera footage captured her being led away, during which she was heard yelling at a bystander, “Can you please not record this?”

Family members of the victim expressed their grief to Fox 35, describing Baker as a devoted and hardworking individual. Her granddaughter, Hannah McBride, shared that “She was the glue of the family, so it’s going to be hard to pick up those pieces.” Baker was reportedly less than two weeks away from celebrating her 63rd birthday at the time of the crash.

In the aftermath of the incident, the county has moved quickly to address safety concerns at beach entrances. Spokesperson Clayton Jackson confirmed that temporary barriers have been installed at the Dunlawton Beach Approach. Jackson stated, “Once we’re able to finalize something at Dunlawton Beach Approach, we’ll be starting to explore the other beach ramps we have throughout the county.”

Harrell, who reportedly has a limited criminal history including a previous guilty plea for reckless driving, is now represented by a new attorney after the Public Defender’s Office withdrew due to a conflict of interest. She is expected to return to court next week, where the possibility of release on bond may be revisited. For now, the judge found sufficient grounds for a pretrial detention and has ordered her held without bond.

Out in California, a woman has been charged with the death of a couple after she allegedly drove drunk, although she claimed she only drank “one twisted tea.” In New York, though, a man allegedly drove drunk to pick up a friend at the Sheriff’s office, who was being held on the same suspicion.