Troopers ID person of interest in DeLand fatal hit-and-run

FHP releases owner of car that hit 2 teens, killed 1

DeLAND, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol troopers have identified the person of interest on Thursday in a DeLand hit-and-run that killed one 14-year-old and injured another back in March.

Troopers said a vehicle struck 14-year-old Juliana Hobbs and 14-year-old Rachel Russell as they were walking. Hobbs was airlifted to Halifax Medical Center where she died from her injuries, troopers said.

Troopers say the vehicle, a Gold Toyota Corolla that was found a day later on March 18, belongs to Danielle Halverson, 50, of DeLand. Troopers were able to confirm it was the correct car by the DNA of the girls' found on the car.

Halverson remains a person of interest as troopers continue to investigate who was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, according to an FHP release.

Charges are pending and details of the investigation will not be released until it's complete.

Hobbs' sister, Courtney, said she can't understand why Halverson hasn't been arrested.

"I'm just trying to figure out in my mind why she's still here," said Courtney Hobbs. "Why isn't she in jail? "It just doesn't make sense why she would not be in custody."

Russell suffered only minor injuries. She told Local 6 back in March that she noticed the car turn around, speed toward the two girls and hitting them at about 60 miles per hour.

"It hard to know that she's still out here able to do this to somebody else," Hobbs said. "It's just worrisome because there's other kids at risk the longer she's put here."

Watch Local 6 for more on this story.


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