Bradenton driver charged with DUI manslaughter in fatal hit-and-run, police say
A Bradenton man is charged with DUI manslaughter and other crimes after police say he ran over and killed a woman who was checking her mail on Friday.
Bradenton police say Jordan Beard, 40, was driving a tan Honda Accord in the 5600 block of 11th Avenue West when a bystander witnessed him collide with a pedestrian who was checking the mail, according to court documents.
The pedestrian, 77-year-old Vicki Noon, died at the scene, police said.
The bystander said he estimated Beard’s speed to be 60 mph and witnessed him continue driving westbound on the street after the crash, court records said.
Crash linked to suspect with DNA evidence, police say
Bradenton police compared the description of the vehicle given by the bystander to footage captured by a neighbor’s camera and tracked the suspected vehicle to a home in the 7200 block of 13th Avenue West, about five minutes away from where the collision occurred, according to court documents.
Police said they found the Honda in a garage with a sheet held down by four rocks covering the windshield. After obtaining a search warrant, police ordered the sheet to be removed and saw damage to the hood and windshield of the vehicle, in addition to DNA evidence that matched Noon, court documents said.
Police say that Beard and his mother, who was also present at the home, admitted to Beard “running over a person.”
The police report also notes that Beard had “glassy eyes, slurred speech, and sluggish reactions,” but said he did not smell of alcohol.
Beard is charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash with death and tampering with evidence, court records say.
His next appearance in Manatee County Court is scheduled for July 26.
