DELAND, Fla. — A Deltona woman has been arrested over a year after a high-speed crash that killed her passenger.
Briannah Ortiz, 18, was charged with vehicular homicide on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and later released from the Volusia County Branch Jail on a $50,000 bond.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said the deadly crash happened around 2:42 a.m. on Aug. 3, 2024, near Howland Boulevard and Kumpula Drive, shortly after Ortiz left work at a Wendy’s restaurant.
According to investigators, Ortiz lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a concrete utility pole while traveling at 94 mph — nearly 50 miles over the speed limit.
Tyisha Schwab, who was riding in the front passenger seat, died at the scene. Ortiz sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to AdventHealth DeLand.
Two witnesses who had also left Wendy’s told deputies they saw Ortiz lose control and crash. Initially, Ortiz claimed she was driving the speed limit. But when confronted with data from her car’s event recorder, she admitted to going 80 mph.
A forensic analysis confirmed she was traveling 94 mph at the time of impact. Additionally, a blood test revealed marijuana in Ortiz’s system, deputies said.
Ortiz is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 16.
