Charges Pending In Fatal Beachside Accident

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Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Beach Police Department is investigating a fatal accident that claimed the life of a 36-year-old woman.

The report from Daytona Beach police says that 63-year-old James Flater was driving west on Vermont Avenue in his 2012 Chevrolet pickup truck when he stopped at the stop sign for Grandview Avenue just before 9 p.m. yesterday (June 15th).

Meanwhile, 36-year-old Karen Puerschner and her boyfriend approached the intersection headed south on Grandview, both of them riding bicycles.

According to investigators, they believe Flater allower Puerschner's boyfriend to pass in front of his truck and then accelerated, hitting Puerschner with the front of his truck, knocking her off of her bike.

After being knocked off the bike, Puerschner was caught under the Chevy truck, suffering serious head and body injuries.

She was taken by paramedics to Halifax Health Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead around 9:35 p.m.

Puerschner was also not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and her bicycle did not have lights on it.

There was only one reflector on the bicycle attached to the front.

Flater stated that he didn't see Puerschner riding behind her boyfriend before he hit the accelerator. Detectives have since determined that the bicyclists had the right of way.

Flater was cooperative with investigators at the scene. He voluntarily submitted to a blood draw before he was released from the scene.

The investigation is still ongoing and Daytona Beach police say charges are pending at this time.