Teen strikes man, drives away with legless torso

Daytona News Journal ^ | 7.5.03 | CHRISTINE GIRARDIN

[RedBloodedAmerican]

DELEON SPRINGS -- The legless body of a pedestrian killed in a gruesome crash was thrown through the windshield into a moving car's front passenger seat, where it stayed while the teenage driver drove home to call police.

Joseph Markert, 57, was trying to cross U.S. 17 near Mills Road in DeLeon Springs about midnight Friday when he was hit by a small car driven by Daniel Dradeen, 19, according to Florida Highway Patrol and EVAC reports.

"It's the pedestrian's fault. He was wearing dark clothing," said Kim Miller, Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman. "The poor kid was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Miller said Dradeen was not impaired, and he went to the nearest place he knew to notify police.

Deputies first learned of the accident from Brass Rail Bar patrons, who called 911 to report finding Markert's legs near the parking lot, according to EVAC spokesman Mark O'Keefe and Volusia County sheriff's reports.

"This was truly a bizarre accident," said O'Keefe.

The next 911 call came from Ronald Brownie's home at 3500 Parkway South, where Dradeen had driven with Markert's upper body. Dradeen had been living with Brownie and his 19-year-old son, Ronald Brownie II, who made the 911 call, said Ronald Brownie, 40.

Dradeen didn't have a cell phone with him and because Brownie's home is about a mile from the accident site, Dradeen decided to finish the drive home, Brownie said.

"A guy coming through your front windshield tends to rattle you," added Brownie.

Paramedics who arrived at Brownie's home quickly pronounced Markert dead. The medical examiner will determine if Market initially survived the impact, but it's more likely the man died immediately of his severe injuries, said O'Keefe.

One of Markert's arms was also severed in the accident and found with his upper body in Dradeen's car, O'Keefe added. Miller said the car was covered in blood, and that investigators believe the legs were severed by the impact with the car, not by the windshield.

No hit-and-run charges will be filed, Miller said, but the case is being examined by a homicide investigator.

Brownie said Dradeen went to stay with his mother early Saturday.

It's still unknown whether Markert had been drinking, but a Brass Rail bartender who didn't reveal his last name said Markert was in the bar Friday night.

"(Investigators) did intimate to me that it was just a tragic accident," Brownie said.

[MEG33]

Now if Chante in Fort Worth had done this,she wouldn't have been sentenced to 50 years in the pen.

[PaulJ]

"A guy coming through your front windshield tends to rattle you," added Brownie.

Really?

[TomGuy]

Miller said Dradeen was not impaired, and he went to the nearest place he knew to notify police.

Yes, quite a contrast between this young man and Chante Mallard.

[Batrachian]

I would think you'd have to be going pretty darn fast to rip a guy's legs off, but some of those rural highways have high speed limits down there, so who knows.

Stay the hell out of the street, that's my advice. Too many nincompoops behind the wheel these days.

[Flyer]

Now if Chante in Fort Worth had done this,she wouldn't have been sentenced to 50 years in the pen.

It's a long drive from Fort Worth to Florida. The guy she hit probably would have been dead by the time she got to Ronald Brownie's home.

[Bahbah]

"Paramedics who arrived at Brownie's home quickly pronounced Markert dead."

Must have been a tough call.

[MEG33]

Cute

[mhking]

Just damn.

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[Flyer]

I have a serious case of the Sunday morning sillies.

[Bluntpoint]

How come Hillary always gets someone else to take the blame?

[Dubh_Ghlase]

17 can be considered a major road, at least in the volume sense. Studies in FL show many fatalities along these intra-state roads are with pedestrians who walk or bike unsafely (late at night, no lights, dark clothing, 3 sheets to the wind...). Alcohol and drugs are usually involved.

Another fact is that in NC, the DOT feels at least half of all single car accidents and fatalities were caused by deer jumping into the road. The stats for the year I looked at represented around 10,000 total accidents, with 5,000 in question...

[Moonman62]

I would think you'd have to be going pretty darn fast to rip a guy's legs off, but some of those rural highways have high speed limits down there, so who knows.

And it ripped one of his arms off and the body made it all the way through the windshield. The FHP has been wrong before. I think the maximum is 75. On a non-divided highway it may be 65 or lower.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

This is DeLeon Springs. Small town, slow speed. At least when I lived in the neighboring town it was. And not much street lighting, either.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

First laugh of the day for me. Thanks.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Paramedics here are on the ball. They use a coin toss for these situations.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

17 can be considered a major road, at least in the volume sense.

Anyone heading to/from Univ Florida to/from West Volusia usually takes this road so it does get alot of traffic, on top of regular traffic

[Flyer]

First laugh of the day for me

Here's hoping it won't be the last.

[Frapster]

Stay the hell out of the street, that's my advice. Too many nincompoops behind the wheel these days.

Or maybe one should be more careful in crossing the road at night in dark clothing after visiting a localy bar? lol

[AAABEST]

It's a long drive from Fort Worth to Florida. The guy she hit probably would have been dead by the time she got to Ronald Brownie's home.

I'm with you on this one. The drive from Texas to Florida with a homeless man in your windsheild - while an option - would probably have not been the best decision.

That being said, Ronald Brownie's place seems to be the place to go for any Floridians who happen to have a critically injured drunk person stuck in their windshield.