One Dead After Driving Off Orange Ave Bridge

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(Photo courtesy of DBFD)

Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Beach Police Department and Fire Department are investigating a fatal accident in the Halifax River near Silver Beach Avenue and Peninsula Drive.

According to Messod Bendayan, the public information officer for the Daytona Beach Police Department, units were called to the construction zone for the new high-rise bridge connecting Orange and Silver Beach Avenues.

Bendayan said that dispatchers were called by a maintenance worker at the nearby Riverplace One Hundred apartment complex. They called for help after hearing a loud crash and spotting a black four-door Kia in the river.

First responders arrived at the scene and waded into the water, where they found 42-year-old Shanna Ferring dead in the vehicle.

Investigators believe that Ferring sped west on Silver Beach and drove off the edge of the road, flying around 75 feet in the air before striking a concrete pylon for the bridge and landing in the water.

The vehicle after being removed from the river
(Daytona Beach Police Department)

The force of the impact was so severe it sheared off the top of the car.

Detectives believe Ferring died upon impact, but the exact cause of death will be determined following an autopsy. Ferring's body is now in the possession of the Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office.

The Daytona Beach Police Department is also not certain of a motive at this time.

This story is still developing.

News Daytona Beach's Patrick Murphy & Diane Coston contributed to this article.

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