Fleeing Traffic Stop, 15-Year-Old Dies in Ormond Beach

Very early on Wednesday morning, Joseph Jay Wixted, a 15-year-old from Holly Hill, was driving a red Chrysler Sebring along North Nova Road in Ormond Beach when a deputy from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Department attempted to pull him over during a routine traffic stop.  

According to the deputy (who has not been named), as soon as he turned on his lights Wixted performed a U-turn and sped off down the road at an extremely high rate of speed.  Following the protocol that stipulates any deputy may abandon a chase if it seems that matching the speed of the pursued vehicle will only lead to an even more dangerous situation, the deputy allowed the Chrysler to drive away.  It is believed that this incident took place around 2:20 in the morning.

Several minutes later, close to 2:30, 9-1-1 dispatchers fielded a call in which the caller claimed to have heard a sizable crash close to West End Street. Officers responded to the scene but were initially unable to locate anything amiss.  Then, however, pieces of plastic and glass were found near some bent foliage beside the road.  The responding officers concluded that this debris constituted possible evidence of a vehicle swerving off the road.

Following the trail left by the vehicle, the responding officers found a red Chrysler Sebring flipped over and half sunk in a marsh.  There is sizable evidence to indicate that this car is the same one that fled from the initial encounter with the Volusia County deputy.  The 15-year-old Wixted was found still in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

In Florida, any citizen may obtain a learners permit at the age of 15.  This permit states that its owner may drive along any roads as long as person of 21 years or older is sitting in the passenger seat.  Wixted was alone at the time of the accident, and it is believed that he was alone when the deputy attempted to pull him over.  Additionally, the owner of the red Chrysler—who has not been named—claims that the car was reported as stolen shortly before the accident occurred.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.