Daytona woman, 85, dies in early morning crash on I-95, troopers say

An 85-year-old Daytona Beach woman died early July 13 on Interstate 95 near New Smyrna Beach when her Kia Soul was rear-ended by a Lincoln Continental, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The crash occurred on northbound I-95 near State Road 44 at 1:32 a.m., investigating troopers said.

According to the FHP, both the victim's Kia Soul and the Lincoln Continental were traveling north in the middle lane of I-95, with the Kia Soul in front.

On approaching S.R. 44, the driver of the Lincoln Continental, a 42-year-old man from Edgewater, failed to see the Kia Soul and slammed into its back, troopers said.

The impact pushed the Kia off the road into the median and the Lincoln Continental also left the roadway onto the right shoulder of the highway, troopers said.

The driver of the Kia Soul died at the scene of the crash and the driver of the Lincoln Continental was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach with serious injuries, troopers said.

The accident remains under investigation, according to FHP.

― Patricio G. Balona is a crime and public safety reporter covering Volusia County and occasionally Flagler County. His coverage areas include Daytona Beach, DeLand, Ormond Beach, and beyond.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona woman, 85, dies in early morning crash on I-95, troopers say

Reporting by Patricio G. Balona, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal

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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 12:45 PM.