The Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) is looking for anyone who witnessed a motor vehicle accident where an elderly Daytona Beach resident passed away after his vehicle was found in a retention pond inside the LPGA International subdivision.
First responders were called out to the intersection of Tournament Drive and Champions Drive at 3:40 p.m. yesterday (August 29, 2021), discovering a blue 2021 Ford Explorer completely submerged in water. Inside the vehicle was 75-year-old Wayne A. Martin, a resident of LPGA International.
Officers and firefighters with the Daytona Beach Fire Department (DBFD) pulled Martin out of the vehicle and attempted to revive him. Paramedics transported him from the scene to AdventHealth Daytona Beach, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigators believe Martin was driving the Ford east on Tournament at a legal speed when the vehicle ran the stop sign at Champions without any apparent attempt to slow down. It then went over a curb, off the road and into the retention pond located east of the intersection.
It appears that Martin was the only person in the vehicle when the accident happened and that he may have had a medical episode while driving. An autopsy has been scheduled by the Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the exact cause of death.
No other vehicles or people are believed to be involved. Charges are not pending in this incident.
Anyone who saw what happened or has information about it is urged to contact Officer Ryan Forrest right away at (386) 671-5447 or ForrestRyan@DBPD.us regarding Case 210016119.