Hinson, an area superintendent and father of four, was a former
principal of the year who planned to retire in January.
"He just had the kind of smile that made everybody smile," said Tim
Huth, the district's deputy superintendent and Hinson's longtime
friend.
Hinson was driving a 1995 district-issued Ford Crown Victoria on his
way back to work after a breakfast for new teachers when the Sable
plowed into his car at Orange Avenue and Caroline Street, a block away
from the Daytona Beach Police Department.
The driver of the Sable, Anthony Ellis, 18, of New Smyrna Beach, had
minor injuries and fled the crash on foot, Florida Highway Patrol
spokeswoman Kim Miller said. Police caught him nearby, and he was
booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on six felony counts:
vehicular homicide, driving without a license, leaving the scene of an
accident with a death, and three counts of leaving the scene of an
accident with injuries.
His four passengers -- all juveniles -- were taken to Halifax Medical
Center in Daytona Beach, where one of them was in critical condition.
"We don't have an estimate of their speed yet or know why they were
speeding," said Miller, adding that the car was registered to a driver
in Ormond Beach. "But charges against the others could come later."
The incident began when a motorist called 911 to report a man driving
recklessly on U.S. Highway 1, Holly Hill police said.
"The caller said a 1999 Mercury Sable was driving aggressively, weaving
in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed," Holly Hill Cmdr. Mark
Barker said. A police sergeant tried to stop the car near the city
limits, when the driver faked pulling over and then sped off. The
sergeant kept it in sight until two Daytona Beach officers on
motorcycles were able to follow it, Barker said.
Officers spotted the car on International Speedway Boulevard and
followed it south on Caroline, where it ran the stop sign and crashed
into Hinson, said Daytona Beach police spokeswoman Sonja Wiles, who
emphasized that police had not chased the car. She said officers saw
the car just moments before the crash and didn't have a chance to do
anything.
Several people who worked in nearby offices reported hearing a loud
crash but said they did not see the accident.
Hinson, a 37-year veteran of the school district, was remembered Friday
as a devoted husband and family man and an "advocate for students."
"David served as a role model for fellow administrators, nurturing and
supporting principals and assistant principals," Superintendent Bill
Hall said. "David Hinson cannot be replaced."
A graduate of the Volusia County school system, Bethune-Cookman College
and Michigan State University, Hinson began his teaching career in 1966
at Campbell Senior High School and moved on to serve as assistant
principal and principal of several schools before being named an area
superintendent in 1998.
The Ormond Beach resident won many awards including Secondary Principal
of the Year, Bethune-Cookman College's Distinguished Alumnus, Music
Educators Administrator of the Year and Distinguished Black
Educator.Hinson, who had four sons and several grandchildren, was as
connected to students as he was to teachers.
"He was very active in student activities; he'd take part in
homecoming, attend spelling bees and go to honors events," said Huth,
who became friends with Hinson nearly 30 years ago. He said Hinson's
wife, Celestine, a teacher at Pathways Elementary, often would go with
him.
When he wasn't attending school functions or fussing over his
grandchildren, Huth said, Hinson could be found on the tennis courts,
at Stewart Memorial Church or at special events at Bethune-Cookman
College. But usually the activity involved children, he said.
"It's just a tragedy to lose such a fine man who was so respected by
his peers and the children he served," Huth said. "He will be missed."
Orlando Sentinel - Charlene Hager-Van Dyke
