Florida woman chuckles in court over charges related to a deadly hit-and-run

Florida Woman in Hit-and-Run Case Appears in Court

A 30-year-old woman from Winter Haven, Florida, named Victoria Johnson, is facing serious charges after allegedly fleeing the scene of a crash that resulted in the death of an 8-year-old boy. In a court appearance on Friday, she showed a surprising demeanor, shaking her head and laughing as the judge read out the charges during a video conference session.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that Johnson was arrested on Thursday. She faces multiple charges, including leaving the scene of an accident that led to death, leaving the scene with serious injury, tampering with evidence, driving without a license that resulted in death, and providing false information to law enforcement.

During the virtual hearing, Johnson appeared visibly unconcerned, laughing at times as the judge detailed the accusations against her. At one point, seemingly in disbelief, she remarked, “I wasn’t even in the car.”

When prompted by the judge about continuing the trial on Saturday after securing an attorney, she expressed uncertainty, saying, “I don’t know which one is better.”

The judge informed her that he couldn’t provide legal advice but offered to appoint a public defender. Johnson agreed, responding, “Yes, please.”

The incident in question occurred just before 8:30 p.m. on a Wednesday when deputies received a 911 call from Faith Baptist Church in Winter Haven, indicating that two juveniles had been struck by a vehicle, which then fled.

According to investigators, the boys were crossing Crystal Beach Road after attending an event at the church when they were hit by a northbound vehicle. Tragically, an 8-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries, while a 10-year-old boy was hospitalized with serious injuries, including a broken arm and a femur fracture.

Witnesses described the vehicle involved as a dark-colored medium-sized SUV, and parts found at the scene appeared to match the underside of this vehicle. Additionally, surveillance footage revealed the vehicle’s movements around the time of the crash.

In a twist, Johnson called authorities the following day, claiming that her dark blue 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe had been stolen. When located by the police, she initially insisted that the car was taken the night before. However, she later admitted to driving on the night of the incident and even mentioned that she “thought I might have hit someone.”

During questioning, Johnson stated that she had been driving around her neighborhood for about 20 minutes but couldn’t recall the specific route she took, although she noted that it was near the crash site. She acknowledged that her license was suspended due to a previous DUI arrest and admitted to using methamphetamine before driving that night.

A public defender has been assigned to represent her. The public defender characterized the incident as a tragic accident, suggesting that after reviewing the affidavit, they did not believe Johnson caused it intentionally.