Daytona Beach

Man struck and killed by train in Daytona Beach identified

Victim arrested dozens of times on misdemeanor charges like drinking in public

Train fatality victim Carl Labreck of Daytona Beach / Headline SurferCarl Labreck, 49, struck and killed by train, is shown here in a 2012 Volusia County branch jail mug shot. He had been arrested dozen of times over past several years on misdemeanor charges like drinking in public. 

DAYTONA BEACH -- A man killed by a train on the tracks of the Florida East Coast Railway on Monday night at the crossing near International Speedway Boulevard has been identified as 49-year-old Carl Labreck, authorities confirmed.

His body was found 75 feet from where he was struck just before 8:30 p.m. A train dispatcher called the crash in to authorities.

Investigators with the FEC and local police are trying to figure out he was standing on the tracks in the first place. The city had an epidemic of suicides by train a decade ago where several men stood in the path of oncoming trains, even with lights and sirens by the conuctors.

Lottery fever: Daytona Beach teen wins half a million bucks in Gold Rush Tripler scratch-off ticket

DeBary woman claims nearly $300,000 with winning Fantasy 5 ticket 

Daytona Beach teen Noble Geathers won half a million in scaratch off / Headline SurferNoble Geathers shown here on his Facebook page, is a rich young man, thanks to his winning lottery scratch-off.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Noble Geathers has reason to smile. After all, it's not every day that a 19-year-old kid pockets half a million bucks. At least before taxes, any way.

The 2011 Daytona State College graduate claimed his $500,000 prize in the Gold Rush Tripler Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee earlier this week.

Investigative Reports: How Safe Are We? Daytona Beach most dangerous city in Florida; 34th in US

Headline Surfer photos / Derrick Henry, shown far left, was sworn in as mayor of Daytona Beach in November. At right is Michael Chitwood, who has been police chief here for seven years.

By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Despite the press release marketing of Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood in the daily print newspaper, Daytona Beach has the distinction of being the most dangerous city in Florida and the 34th most dangerous in the United States.

Study: Daytona State College has local economic impact of nearly $710 million

DAYTONA BEACH – A new study attributes a powerful impact on the local economy of nearly $710 million generated by Daytona State College, its students and alumni.

The study verifies the strength and value of the college’s service to the communities, businesses and individuals in Volusia and Flagler counties and beyond, top administrative officials stressed in announcing the study's findings this afternoon.

Rachel's Law: Death of young woman led to stricter guidelines in use of confidential informants

Enacted in 2009, 'Rachel's Law' requires Florida law enforcement agencies to institute stricter policies, procedures and training relating to confidential informant operations. 

Rachel Hoffman of Rachel's Law / Headline SurferNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Rachel Hoffman's 2008 murder in a botched undercover drug buy while deployed as a confidential informant by the Tallahassee Police Department led by Police Chief Dennis Jones was the impetus for the Florida Legislature's passage of "Rachel's Law."

Former Daytona Beach PD top cop and current Tallahassee police chief semi-finalist to lead New Smyrna Beach

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla -- Dennis Jones, one of the Sunshine State's top cops, wants to come home. The Tallahassee police chief and former Daytona Beach police chief is among seven semi-finalists to become New Smyrna Beach's next police chief.

Bike Week Racing: Pole sitter Cameron Beaubier takes checkered flag in Daytona 200 at the speedway

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Two women riders finish in Top 10

The Daytona 200 bike race at Daytona International Speedway / Headline SurferPhoto for Headline Surfer / Two bikes streak down the homestretch of Daytona International Speedway early on in the Daytona 200.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Graves Yamaha rider Cameron Beaubier delivered a dominating performance on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway leading leading all but seven of the 57 laps to take the checkered flag for the 72nd Daytona 200 AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race.

Official Bike Week newspaper subscription-free online during 10-day rally

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News-Journal subscriber / Headline SurferDAYTONA BEACH -- More proof that the online digital payment requirement of the Daytona Beach News-Journal is not the cash cow for the print newspaper: Access was free during Bike Week as it was during Speedweeks.

Here's wondering if those subscribers paying the $9.95 monthly fee get a rebate cedit towards the next month's subscription? The way it works is you get five fee clicks per month and then id you want more access you have to pay the $9.95 monthly fee, unless of course,  have a full seven-day home delivery pribnt subscription, then digital access is free.

1st Bike Week fatality: Virginia Harley rider hit by car on I-4 in Lake Mary and run over

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Suspect driver abandons car half mile away after shifting into reverse

Biker fatality on I-4 in Lake Mary, FL / Headline SurferMotorcyclist Keenan Huff, 42, of Brightwood, Va., lost his life overnight while riding on Interstate 4, as shown in this locator map, when he was struck on by a hit-and-run driver.

LAKE MARY -- A Virginia biker was struck and killed by a motorist on I-4 early this morning in a horrible hit-and-run situation, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Cool start to Bike Week in greater Daytona Beach

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Bike Week weather is cool on Main Street in Daytona / Headline SurferHeadline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / A man in a heavy jacket walks by the Boot Hill Saloon on Main Street in Daytona Beach as shown here.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Gloves and a scarf may be the preferred accessories with today's start of Bike Week because of the chilly weather over the next few days.

Today's high in Daytona Beach is expected to peak at 67 degrees with winds of 5 to 15 mph and gusts of up to 20 mph.

Tonight will see the temperature dropping to 48 degrees. Saturday looks a little better with a high of 70 and overnight temperature of 54 with diminishing winds of 5 to 10 mph.