Ormond Beach, FL - The man Ormond Beach Police say was the driver in a fatal pedestrian accident, 23-year-old Justin Egatz, is now in the Volusia County Jail being held on a blanket bond of $100,000, though each of the eight charges against him has a $100,000 bond apiece. He was arrested yesterday (February 18) afternoon by Holly Hill Police.
The accident happened on May 27, 2019 . Witnesses reported that Egatz was speeding toward the intersection of W. Granada Blvd. and Seminole Dr. when he hit a car more than 500 feet away. He kept going, narrowly missing another vehicle before hitting and killing 27-year-old Kayla Mungai and her unborn child. She was 14 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. He also hit 30-year-old Nicholas Mungai, who received minor injuries.
Another driver blocked Egatz's path before he could drive off again. Police found him sitting in the driver's seat. They say he would not make eye contact. When asked to get out of the car he did. The officer noted he was sweating profusely and his pupils were "pinpoint and constricted." When ask what happened before he hit the pedestrians he stated "I was looking down to change the radio station and that he did not remember anything after that." He said did not remember anything prior to the crash or after the crash. He submitted to a blood test at the scene and was released, pending the toxicology report.
The toxicology results showed zero for alcohol but the drug results showed that Egatz had THC and Clonazepam in his system. The results show that he was under the influence of narcotics and was in fact impaired at the time of the crash. Several of the witness interviewed stated that the vehicle driven by Egatz had no intention to stop nor did the driver return to the crash scene to render aid to the pedestrians.
Egatz is charged with two counts of Vehicular Homicide, two counts of DUI Causing Death to a Human or Unborn Child and one count each of Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Death, Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Serious Bodily Injury, Reckless Driving with Serious Bodily Injury, and Reckless Driving Damage to Person or Property.
