110 W. New York Ave.
DeLand, FL 32720
386-734-4622
Friends mourn death of Dave Johnson
By Pat Hatfield
posted Dec 16, 2009 - 12:52:36pm
UPDATED FRIDAY, DEC. 18: DeLand Police said a man involved in a fatal crash on State Road 44 Dec. 12 was fleeing police in a stolen truck at the time, and had tried to run over a DeLand police officer who stopped the truck a short time earlier.
The crash killed 40-year-old Dave Johnson of DeLand, when Johnson's SUV collided with the stolen truck east of DeLand. Friends and family gathered Dec. 18 in Chess Park in Downtown DeLand, to mourn the loss of Johnson, father of two and a master Web programmer.
Police arrested 19-year-old John Yovaish of New Smyrna Beach, charging him with aggravated battery on a law-enforcement officer, fleeing and attempting to elude police, grand theft, and driving with a suspended driver's license.
Yovaish remained in the Volusia County Branch Jail at press time.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said additional charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation.
The Highway Patrol reported that, just before midnight Dec. 12, Yovaish was eastbound in the westbound lane of S.R. 44 just west of County Road 4139. He was driving a stolen white Ford F550 flatbed pickup with the name "Advanced Pavers" on its side, the FHP said.
Johnson was driving a 1998 Nissan SUV westbound, in the westbound lane.
Both vehicles entered the curve on S.R. 44, and both drivers tried to swerve to avoid a head-on crash; however, both swerved in the same direction, the FHP said.
According to the report, Yovaish's truck sideswiped Johnson's Nissan, and spun it. Johnson was dead at the scene; his body was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office.
FHP released no further details.
On Dec. 16, FHP spokeswoman Trooper Kim Miller said, "The crash remains under investigation, and charges are still pending against Yovaish."
The story began several hours earlier, in New Smyrna Beach, where, according to law-enforcement reports, a young man abandoned his bicycle in favor of a truck he stole from his former employer.
Events leading to the crash
Here's what happened Saturday, Dec. 12, according to reports from the DeLand Police Department and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office:
At 10:02 p.m.
The Sheriff's Office received a report of truck stolen from Advanced Pavers' locked compound in New Smryna Beach. A witness spotted the 2008 Ford F550 flatbed being driven westbound on State Road 44 from Old Mission Road in New Smyrna. The witness called the owner of the company and reported seeing what looked like ex-employee John D. Yovaish behind the wheel.
Yovaish would have know how to enter the compound and get the truck and its keys, company owner Bernie Murtaugh told deputies. A bicycle believed to be Yovaish's mother's was found at the scene. His parents told Murtaugh that Yovaish left the house a couple of hours earlier on the bicycle.
Deputies were unable to locate the truck; they issued a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) bulletin.
At 11:30 p.m.
DeLand Police Sgt. Michael Quinn and other DeLand officers were at the corner of Woodland Boulevard and Beresford Avenue on unrelated business, when they saw a truck matching the description of the white Ford that had been reported stolen. The truck was headed east on Beresford.
At 11:34 p.m.
Sheriffi's Office Investigator David McNamara was driving on Kepler Road, headed northbound toward S.R. 44, when he heard the DeLand Police call dispatch about seeing the stolen truck. McNamara turned west onto S.R. 44, also looking for the truck. He continued to monitor the DeLand officers' radio calls.
In the meantime, DeLand Sgt. Michael Quinn followed the truck down Beresford, north onto Amelia Avenue, then east on New York Avenue. He then spotted the vehicle on South Boston Avenue, where it had turned off New York.
Quinn turned around and turned on his patrol car's flashing lights. The truck turned back onto New York Avenue and stopped.
Quinn got out of his vehicle, pointed his flashlight at the suspect in the truck and yelled for the man to show his hands.
As Quinn waited for backup to arrive, the man drove the truck toward the officer, where Quinn stood next to his patrol vehicle, the report states. Quinn yelled for the suspect to stop, but he "accelerated at a high rate of speed towards me ... in attempt to run me over."
The truck's passenger side mirror struck Quinn on the arm, causing a minor injury, and the truck continued east on S.R. 44.
Sheriff's Investigator McNamara, who had headed west on Voorhis Avenue toward Hill Avenue, looking for the truck, heard Quinn call in the stop. McNamara turned back toward S.R. 44 with his emergency lights activated. He looked for the truck at Hill and S.R. 44, but did not see it.
Quinn and other officers followed the truck's path, but not at high speed, the DeLand Police said.
DeLand Police Officer J. Miller put out stop sticks at the intersection of New York (S.R. 44) and Blue Lake avenues. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office Air-One helicopter joined in the search.
Miller announced on the radio the stolen truck had hit the stop sticks and continued eastbound on S.R. 44. McNamara turned eastbound onto S.R. 44 to assist.
McNamara and Quinn heard a radio call from another deputy that the truck was speeding through the intersection of Kepler Road at a high rate of speed and with its headlights off. Another officer reported on the radio that the truck had lost a wheel.
McNamara continued east on S.R. 44, believing he was about a mile behind Quinn and the stolen truck.
McNamara then spotted a vehicle on the north side of the roadway, in the dark – "pitch black." It was Johnson's SUV. McNamara didn't see the vehicle until he was passing it. The vehicle showed damage from being in an accident, and there was a large amount of debris on the road, he reported.
Then, McNamara spotted the stolen truck on the south shoulder of the road, with no lights on.
McNamara drove past that vehicle for safety, then stopped and got out, looking for Quinn's police cruiser, which he thought had been ahead of him.
Meanwhile, Quinn was just coming around the curve near County Road 4139. He had thought he'd spotted the stolen truck turn left into the convenience store at Kepler Road and S.R. 44, and got into the turn lane. When he realized the vehicle he saw was not the stolen truck, he pulled back onto S.R. 44, but other traffic was between him and McNamara's vehicle.
Quinn then came upon the accident scene, where "a large debris field" was scattered over the roadway.
Quinn and McNamara approached the stolen truck. They ordered the suspect out of the truck, but he told them he could not get out. The truck doors were jammed and its windows shut.
Quinn broke a window and pulled the suspect out.
At 11:48 p.m.
Florida Highway Patrol got the call about the accident.
Medical personnel arrived on the scene.
FHP took charge of the crash scene.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office Air-One helicopter flew Yovaish to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where he was checked over, then arrested. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Johnson is survived by two daughters, Jessica, 16, and Lacey, 12, both of DeLand; his parents, Mary Browder of Lexington, S.C., and Wayne R. Johnson of Lake Okeechobee; his brother, William J. Fugo, his sister-in-law Trendalyn, and nephew Anthony and niece Theresa.
Lankford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
No high-speed pursuit
DeLand Police spokesman Sgt. John Anderson said the fatal crash was not preceded by a high-speed chase.
"The officers did what they could" to stop the defendant without chasing him at high speeds, Anderson said.
In the case of a "forcible felony," as this was, due to the attempt to run over Officer Quinn, DeLand Police are allowed by policy to engage in high-speed pursuit. It's the supervisor's call.
In this case, the decision was to not use high speeds, Anderson emphasized.
Most jurisdictions ban or limit high-speed pursuits, citing danger to other drivers on the road.
Stop sticks are used as an alternative to high-speed pursuits. A police officer throws the stop sticks on the road in the path of the oncoming vehicle. The stop sticks damage the vehicle's tires, causing them to deflate slowly — not explosively — gradually disabling the vehicle.
Reader Comments
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You'll be missed!
~jill~
To all Daves friends and family who attended the service yesterday, I'm sure it made him smile that beautiful smile.
There are no words to describe this tragedy and there is no time table to get over it. I don't always understand the paths that the good Lord lays in front of us. What I try to accept is that He will never burden us with more than we can handle. That being said, this seems like much more.
My family traveled to Florida from South Carolina for the ceremony but I was not able to go. I heard that it was beautiful and I wish that I had been there. For those of you who didn't know Dave well, he was as good, honest and funny as a man as everyone here says, who loved his family very much.
It is just so sad that I will no longer spend holidays with my stepbrother. R.I.P. Dave...we miss you.
The only thing that would have made it perfect at the memorial is by having Jessi and Lacey present as I asked to have done. I wanted them to hear the outpourung of love. Had they been encouraged to do so and have that memory later for life they may be able to figure out what petty things are blown so out of proportion,
I thank each and every one for the kindnesses throughout the whole day. And I know Dave was right there watching all of his friends, He just missed out on a great party.
Thank you again
Mary Browder (Dave's very, very proud mother)
As for you Jill, I have known you for years too and know everything about you and your daughters. Dave has never loved anyone or anything more than his daughters. It's too bad you chose to teach them otherwise. I hope you have it in you to turn it around and really let them know how much they meant to him and this was not his doing.
My deepest condolences to Dave's mother and the rest of his family. God Bless.
I've know Dave since 9th grade and we we're very close. Depsite some of the disturbing messages said...he was an amazing person. The "Best". My deepest sympathy and heart goes out to both of you!
Jill – enough is enough! I’ve been married to Mary, Dave’s mother, for over eleven years and watched with sadness and without intervening how you systematically destroyed your marriage with Dave, poisoned the girls against him with your lies and spill-over from your own hate, then built and continued to reinforce a wall between them. This forum is full of positive and supportive love for a man who has been taken from us. Your posted of rambling and self-promoting comments is totally out of place. I suggest you read Jessie’s comments in great detail and be apologizing for the hate you’ve instilled in her.
Jessie – I know you’re speaking what’s in your heart though it saddens me greatly to find it here where respects are being paid. However, I want you to know that you were totally and unconditionally loved by your father. The most painful thing in Dave’s life was his inability to show his love because he couldn’t break through through the hate that you carried. We in his family have no way to express our love and concern for you and Lacey now because it has to be through your Mom who blocks any attempt.
You are a beautiful young lady with rare and exceptional intelligence and can think for yourself. Search for the truth and put the hate aside. Dave loved you and Lacey with all his heart. Nothing - and no one, can ever change that. Love from your dad’s family carries on and will be there always for you and Lacey.
HE IS GREATLY MISSED BY SO MANY!!! WORKING AT THE YMCA I GOT TO KNOW DAVE. HE WOULD BE IN THERE WHENEVER THE DOORS WERE OPEN, OFTEN TWICE A DAY! HE WOULD ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO MAKE PEOPLE SMILE! HIS SMILE BECAME KNOWN AND WAS SUCH AN GREAT PERSON! HIS LOVE FOR WORKING OUT ENCOURAGED MANY PEOPLE. MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS!! WE ALL MISS YOU DAVE!!!
AND ABOUT THE 19 YEAR OLD, DONT WORRY HE WILL BE IN JAIL FOR LIFE!! HE DESERVES IT! WHAT A WASTE!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his friends, and to anyone who knew him who has experienced this loss first hand.
With our deepest sympathy,
Mr. & Mrs. Murtaugh
When I got the call on Monday from Missy that you were gone, I did not care about why, I only felt the impact of you being gone from this plane, and onto the next.
I never told you how sorry I was and still am for the pain that you felt from your father, my brother leaving you behind.
Mary: My heart is with you during this time, you never took sides, you were always part of our family. I wish I could do something to ease your pain, but it is something I cannot understand. But now I feel hurt for David Leaving us, more than you know.
I had planned to fly down and be there to honor his life, but I know that is going to be done in other ways.
So I honor David, Your son here.
David: I was always proud to be your cousin, I will see you another time, on another path.
John
Thank you for your influence and words of advice in my life. I will always remember you.
Phillip Nation and the JVI Family
The punk that killed him needs to face justice. To the Deland Police officers, you were doing your job no one blames you. We cannot control what happens when you turn the lights on.
Dave, I miss you.
Ed
on his unicycle... He will be missed.
Anthony
~JILL MILLER~
Rest in Peace. I hope this John person gets what he deserves which is to rot in "%&*#".
My prayers are with you and your Family...REST IN PEACE!!!
I can't help but to wish the worst on John Yovaish. After viewing his mug-shot, it's obvious he had no remorse for the life he just took. I pray he gets his punk-a** beat down during his stay in prison, and when he's released in the future (and we all know he will be) I hope some other low-life piece of **** takes his life just like he took Daves. ROT IN **** JOHN YOVAISH!
Rest in peace my brother, I'll NEVER forget who you were.
Dave became my roommate, and we ran around together for a couple of years. He was a pretty grounded indivdual, while others took flight! Gonna miss you man......God bless!
His two beautiful girls are without a father because of one 19 yr old idiot, thinking he is above the law and having no respect for human lives.
My deepest sympathy to his family and all who knew him..
We will miss you Dave!
Love always,
Natalie and Family
May you rest in peace, Dave. Actually, I know you are making the angels laugh at this moment!
Its so true when they say "The Good Die Young" You will be Truely missed and my Blessings to his entire Family.
Is this an FDOT issue or City of DeLand issue? Please explore strategies for improving the safety of this curve.
For all of us who knew Dave, we can agree that he was a real bright light...always making people laugh and lightening the load of the day with his antics. He had a real knack for getting your smile going. He will be missed and I promise to always keep his jovial spirit with me as a reminder to cherish my moments, my people, and the one chance I have at this life. Make it great folks and smile while you're at it. Love you Dave.
Tiff
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