{"id":295523,"date":"2026-06-04T07:45:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T07:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/295523\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T07:45:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T07:45:20","slug":"she-entered-shes-dead-bodycam-released-in-deadly-florida-toll-booth-crash-at-beach-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/295523\/","title":{"rendered":"‘She entered, she’s dead’: Bodycam released in deadly Florida toll booth crash at beach"},"content":{"rendered":"

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. (CBS12) \u2014 Newly released body camera footage on Tuesday is shedding light on a deadly crash at a Daytona Beach Shores toll booth, as investigators continue to build a case against the suspected driver.<\/p>\n

According to the Volusia Sheriff\u2019s Office<\/a>, deputies began receiving 911 calls reporting a suspected drunk driver in the area shortly before the collision on June 1<\/a>. Callers described a pickup truck being driven erratically, with the driver nearly hitting several vehicles and objects along Peninsula Drive.<\/p>\n

\"{p}Authorities<\/p>\n

Authorities say suspected drunk driver now in custody after deadly toll booth crash caught on bodycam. (VSO) <\/p>\n

Sheriff Mike Chitwood<\/a> said the investigation indicates 35-year-old Deanna Harrell had been drinking at a bar in Daytona Beach Shores earlier that afternoon before getting behind the wheel. Dispatch recordings included warnings from witnesses who said the vehicle \u201calmost hit several cars, a mailbox, ran into a trash can,\u201d and was seen making dangerous maneuvers in traffic.<\/p>\n

Within minutes, the situation turned deadly.<\/p>\n

Investigators say 63-year-old toll booth worker Tammy Jo \u201cTiny Joe\u201d Baker had just entered the booth when the crash occurred. Chitwood said the timeline highlights how quickly the tragedy unfolded.<\/p>\n

\"Family<\/p>\n

Family mourns toll worker killed after alleged drunk driver slams into booth along Florida beach. (CNN Newsource)<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 12:38, she kills our victim,\u201d Chitwood said. \u201cWhat you\u2019re not going to see in here is that our victim, Tiny Joe Baker, enters that booth at 12:38:05. At 12:40, she\u2019s dead. At 12:39, EMTs are on location.\u201d<\/p>\n

See also: Surveillance, phone data helped crack retail theft ring that hit hardware stores<\/a><\/p>\n

Body camera footage<\/a> released by deputies shows first responders and lifeguards rushing to Baker\u2019s aid moments after impact. The video also captures the aftermath as authorities located Harrell along the beach, where her vehicle had become stuck in the sand after continuing south following the crash.<\/p>\n

Deputies said Harrell showed signs of intoxication, including the odor of alcohol. Chitwood confirmed that she was taken into custody and placed under the Baker Act <\/a>\u2014 a Florida law allowing involuntary psychiatric evaluation \u2014 after making threats of self-harm.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office announced that Harrell was placed into custody on her VSO warrants for vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter in the death of Baker.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that investigation takes 12 hours or a year, when we get all the facts together, we\u2019re going to bring justice,\u201d Chitwood said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Baker\u2019s family is mourning the sudden loss of a woman they say was the heart of their family. Loved ones gathered in Daytona Beach Shores to honor her life near the beach she loved.<\/p>\n

\"Family<\/p>\n

Family mourns toll worker killed after alleged drunk driver slams into booth along Florida beach. (CNN Newsource)<\/p>\n

Relatives described Baker as cheerful, humorous, and deeply devoted to her family. She was a mother, grandmother, and soon-to-be great-grandmother whose personality left a lasting impression on those around her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was always smiling. She was always happy,\u201d said her daughter, Luella Harris.<\/p>\n

Her granddaughter, Hannah McBride, said Baker loved being near the ocean and enjoyed her job at the toll booth. \u201cShe lived on the beach, so just working out here was probably a plus,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

City leaders have also weighed in, urging drivers to slow down in the beachside community, where vehicles share space with pedestrians and workers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSlow down. You have to know this is a driving beach,\u201d Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Nancy Miller said during a vigil. \u201cPlease slow down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Authorities emphasize that while the investigation is ongoing, their goal remains clear: to hold those responsible accountable and to ensure justice for Baker and her family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. (CBS12) \u2014 Newly released body camera footage on Tuesday is shedding light on a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":294686,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":["post-295523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-florida","tag-florida","tag-florida-headlines","tag-florida-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=295523"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295523\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=295523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=295523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=295523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}