Blood and air bag powder has linked a man to the deadly hit-and-run crash that killed a 27-year-old man last weekend in Volusia County, police said Friday.
Laras Smith, 40, of Holly Hill, was arrested Friday on multiple charges, including vehicular homicide.
The incident began when a Daytona Beach Police Department sergeant attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Sykes at the intersection of South Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and Orange Avenue. Smith then fled from police and traveled southbound on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph.
The Mercedes then slammed into the back of a Toyota Corolla that was stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and South Street.
The driver of the Toyota, 27-year-old Denzil Sykes, died at the scene of the crash, police said.
After slamming into Sykes' car, police said Smith took off running and abandoned the Mercedes.
After police were called to the scene to try and locate the man, they found Smith about two blocks north of the crash scene. The Mercedes is registered to Smith's wife, Darlene Reed, a report states.
A jacket with what appeared to be blood on it was located about 50 feet from the crash, police said. The clothing Smith was wearing had a white powdery substance, which is consistent with powder from an air bag deployment.
Smith has been charged with vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, fleeing and eluding and driving with a suspended license.