61. Daytona Beach Shores cops: St. Augustine man killed in fiery car crash caused by excessive speed

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. -- Traffic homicide investigators to this day aren't sure why a St. Augustine motorist was driving at speeds of up to 110 mph on April 25, when he crashed his Toyota hatchback leading to a fiery explosion and his death.

The driver crossed into the northbound lanes, struck a curb and became airborne -- then collided with a light pole 13 feet above ground. This led to a fiery explosion with the driver inside.

The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when police responded just after midnight in the 2900 block of South Atlantic Avenue.

The driver, identified as 42-year-old Michael Viola, was pronounced dead at the scene of the fiery crash in front of a condominium building where witnesses said they heard a loud noise.

Here is a summary of the horrific crash as described by Daytona Beach Shores Sgt. Michael Fowler: "An officer of the Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety heard a loud explosion in the 2900 block of South Atlantic Avenue just after midnight. When he responded to investigate he found a fiery crash in front of Oceans 8 condominium. Daytona Beach Shores fire crews responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the fire. The single vehicle crash resulted in the death of the sole occupant."

Fowler continued, "An initial investigation revealed that the silver Toyota hatchback was traveling southbound on South Atlantic Avenue at speeds of up to 110 miles per hour when it crossed into the northbound lanes and struck a curb, sending it airborne. During the crash the vehicle struck a light pole at 13 feet in the air and exploded. The fire had fully engulfed the vehicle prior to the officers’ arrival."

Daytona Beach Shores police Sgt. Michael Fowler continued, "An initial investigation revealed that the silver Toyota hatchback was traveling southbound on South Atlantic Avenue at speeds of up to 110 miles per hour when it crossed into the northbound lanes and struck a curb, sending it airborne. During the crash the vehicle struck a light pole at 13 feet in the air and exploded. The fire had fully engulfed the vehicle prior to the officers’ arrival."

The speeding-related motor vehicle fatality comes in at No. 61 in the HeadlineSurfer.com countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2014.

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