Head-on-accident victim identified - The West Volusia Beacon

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Head-on-accident victim identified

FHP tries to find family of dead driver

By Pat Andrews
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Feb 6, 2013 - 3:42:49pm

UPDATE 02-07-13 — The driver who was killed in the Feb. 6 collision has been identified as 61-year-old Connie Rae Rodriguez of Port Orange. She was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, the FHP report states.

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED — An unidentified motorist was killed and another one seriously injured in a collision on U.S. Highway 17 at Spring Garden Avenue in DeLand around 5 a.m. today, Wednesday, Feb. 6.

The Florida Highway Patrol has not yet released the name of the driver who was killed, pending notification of next of kin.

The FHP report states that a 2002 Nissan driven by William David Lopez, 27, of DeLand was traveling southbound on U.S. 17, when he lost control of the vehicle and crossed the highway's concrete median, then entered the northbound lane. Lopez's Nissan crashed head-on into a 2009 Hyundai, killing the woman who was driving it.

FHP was trying to determine the residence of the woman, who had a North Carolina driver's license, but who may have been living in Florida, and contact her next of kin. Those efforts are ongoing this afternoon.

Lopez was initially taken to Florida-Hospital-DeLand, and was later transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Center due to his injuries.

FHP investigators said Lopez does not have a driver's license and was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Later in the day Feb. 6, Lopez was booked and was awaiting transport from the hospital to the Volusia County Branch Jail, charged with DUI manslaughter, driving without a license, and driving without a license causing a death in a crash.

— Pat@beacononlinenews.com

Reader Comments

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Life Forever Changed | posted Feb 17, 2013 - 12:24:36am

I could care less if he had one beer or ten, if he had just drank them or had sleep in between. His blatant disregard for the law killed my mother. He was released on bond two days after the accident. It has been almost 12 days since her death and I still don't have her body in the ground. My life has been put on hold as I make arrangements to honor my mother with a proper burial and I watch my family suffer from pain and grief. My mother was my best friend. We were attending Bible College together and took road trips across state every weekend. No words can describe the pain that I feel. My mother would want me to forgive Mr. Lopez and I have, but I will make it my lifelong mission to make sure that he is held accountable for the damage that he has done.

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KAREN K CLARK | posted Feb 12, 2013 - 10:52:26pm

Many races and ethnic people drive without licenses. It is just one ethnic background. Put him away for a long long long time

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Kudatz | posted Feb 8, 2013 - 8:45:31am

Hey Mary M, I did not "asxume" Lopez was a Mexican. Look at his mugshot in the Daytona Fish Wrap and see for yourself. He defenitely ain't from Sweden!

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Mary M. | posted Feb 8, 2013 - 5:40:13am

Kudatz, what makes you asxume William David Lopez is Mexican? LopeZ is a Latin name, but William David is as English as you can get. I do agree with other posters that we need more spot checks of licenses and insurance.

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Steve | posted Feb 7, 2013 - 6:25:26am

Helen, just to answer your question about being drunk and driving at 5am.. He could have stopped drinking at 10pm and slept a few hours, then awoke to go to work. Even that lapse in time can result in a legally drunk definition. Probably happens a lot more than anyone is willing to admit by people of all types. Americans, Mexicans, Norwegians, Scientologist.Stand by for the release of his BAC test. If it's right at the legal limit (.08) then that's the equal to 1 beer and hopping in a car. That being said, he should not have been on the road. He is going away for a while.

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Roosevelt Woody | posted Feb 7, 2013 - 4:34:21am

Let us pray.

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Helen Carter | posted Feb 6, 2013 - 9:15:10pm

Not but 8 hours earlier a little further north on 17, I was passed by a speeding car going northbound in the southbound lane. Wrong side of the highway. Thankfully I was in the right lane & the car passed me. Can't help but wonder if this was the same vehicle. How can you be drunk and driving at 5 in the morning?

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Linda | posted Feb 6, 2013 - 8:06:51pm

In Dallas they do checks on vehicles registrations and insurance and if you cannot show proof of them the vehicle is towed adnd impounded with fines and a daily charge-- from what I understand this had lowered accidents such as these- start enforcing and doing vehicle checks there are too many out there on the road illegally!

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Carla | posted Feb 6, 2013 - 7:52:41pm

The woman that was killed was my friend. Connie was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. She did everything she could to help anyone. She will truely be missed. I hope this guy really suffers for the rest of his life for what he did.

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Kudatz | posted Feb 6, 2013 - 7:47:54pm

Nobody got killed in DeLand by a assault style weapon today but someone got killed by a drunken Mexican without a drivers license.................... I'll let you figure out the rest of my thoughts!

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Karen | posted Feb 6, 2013 - 6:36:00pm

Since he did not have a driver license, was he one of our illegals we need to start having license traffic stops and whether they are legal.

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supersonicaxe@aol.com | posted Feb 6, 2013 - 4:13:34pm

Hang that drunk driver from the highest tree in the State.

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