Man, pregnant woman killed by dump truck

2 hit by truck in freak accident, troopers say

PALM COAST, Fla. – Two people were killed Thursday night when a dump truck backed over them, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

FHP officials said the incident was reported at 10:32 p.m. in a construction zone near Palm Coast on Forest Grove Drive and Palm Harbor Parkway.

Troopers said 29-year-old Kevin Walsh tried to drive his truck though the construction zone, but got stuck. He asked his friend Jessica Darby, 22, and her fiance to help, WJXT reports.

Darby was pregnant and five weeks away from her delivery date, according to her family.

After several failed attempts to free the truck, they asked 60-year-old Paul T. Beagan if he could use his dump truck to free the truck.

When that effort was unsuccessful, Beagan backed up his truck to leave. Troopers said Beagan didn't see that Walsh and Darby were in his path. The dump truck backed over them and they died at the scene, officials said.

Grieving family and friends placed flowers and said their goodbyes to Walsh and Darby Friday.

"Kevin, I love you and I miss you, kid," said Walsh's uncle, Kenneth Walsh. "He was a very, very good guy, very loving, very caring. I just don't understand it."

"I can't imagine how this happened," said Jerry Dimura, who said Walsh used to work with him and his wife at their landscaping business before he started his own. "He did everything right."

"(He was) one of our best workers ever," Tracy Dimura said. "You can't imagine (better) loyalty. (He was) there every day, whenever you needed him."

Darby's family declined to go on camera, but shared a picture of their daughter.

The truck driver was taken to the hospital for chest pains. It's unclear if he'll be facing any charges.


About the Author:

Loren Korn is a native Texan who joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2014. She was born and raised in Houston and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Journalism.