Tragic Incident at Florida Tire Store
A tragic event occurred at a Florida tire shop when an employee lost her life while trying to prevent a customer from leaving without paying $95 for a used tire.
Ashley Tyer, who had worked at Just Stop Tire Co. in Mascotte for seven years, was thrown off the hood of a customer’s car last week. After the incident, she was placed on life support but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. According to co-worker James Kelly, he had just finished installing a tire when the customer refused payment. The man then jumped into the driver’s seat, taking the car off the jack.
“I thought, ‘Let’s grab the tag. He can’t go far.’ We had everything—his name, the car,” Kelly recounted. “Ashley was in front of the car trying to stop him, but he just scooped her up and drove off. It was chaotic.”
The driver, Kelly said, sped away for about half a block. It happened so quickly, he noted, that Ashley fell from the vehicle as it accelerated.
“When I turned, she was already on the hood,” he added, “but it’s unclear if she jumped or if she was hit. Either way, it was evident that her life was in danger, and he just didn’t care.”
The Mascotte Police Department has arrested 33-year-old Brandon Charles Lewis, charging him with first-degree vehicular homicide. The city confirmed his arrest was linked to the theft of a tire, as detailed in a statement released online.
As reported by Click Orlando, the judge set his bail at $500,000. Media records indicate that Lewis has a history of legal troubles, including convictions for driving under the influence and disorderly conduct in Ohio, along with various offenses in Florida, such as fleeing the scene of an accident.
The Metropolitan Police remarked on the incident, pointing out a “blatant disregard for human life.” They also indicated that more charges could follow.
Store owner Roy Crews described Ashley as the heart of the business. In a poignant tribute, Kelly mentioned that Tyer had been working on a flower bed made from recycled tires outside the store—a project that is now intended as a memorial to her.
