Local News Now

EDGEWATER -- A 41-year-old Edgewater woman was killed Thursday night when she lost control of her SUV, which left the roadway on East New York Avenue and overturned several times, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Deborah Bennett, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from her 2002 Isuzu while the sport utility vehicle was overturning. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the 6:10 p.m. single-vehicle accident near the intersection of East New York Avenue and Damascus Road just outside DeLand, said Sgt. Kim Montes, spokeswoman for the Florida Highway Patrol.

Bennett was travelling west in the outside lane when for unknown resons she left the roadway to the right, and overcorrected, which resulted in the SUV overturning, Montes said. A traffic homice investigation is ongoing, including whether alcohol may have been a factor, she added.

DAYTONA BEACH -- As NASCAR gears up for Sunday's running of the Daytona 500, let's take a look back down memory lane to the previous races at the world center of motor racing: Daytona International Speedway.

1959 winner: Lee Petty

Highlights: It all started in 1959 with a photo finish that had Johnny Beauchamp the unofficial winner before the "official" results three days later had Lee Petty winning. The inaugural race also is noteworthy because several of the drivers were in convertibles, including a young driver named Richard Petty, son of Lee Petty, who lasted all of eight laps. He'd go on to have quite a stellar career, though, winning the 500 a record seven times. The were 59 drivers in the race. The race lasted 3:41:22, with an average speed of 135.521 mph. There were no cautions.

Editor's Note: Deb Denys, a New Smyrna Beach resident and an announced candidate for the Volusia County Council dist. 3 seat representing Southeast Volusia, is calling for the resignation of SVAA Chairman David Kosmas. Here is her guest blog on the controversy surrounding the ad authority: 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Without excuse, our tourist economy and community deserve better. Revelations of the last couple months, draws the glaring conclusion that the chair of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority (David Kosmas) either is unwilling or unable to exercise due diligence of the position as chair of an ad authority.

It is the chair’s responsibility to oversee the board, agenda, reporting, and ultimately the executive director. The days of governing with a ‘wink and a nod’ are over.