On Sunday morning, June 2, Volusia County Senior Deputy Frank Scofield, 58, was riding his bicycle in training for a memorial ride to honor 9/11 victims when a van ran a stop sign and hit him from behind. Sadly he later died of his injuries at a local hospital.
Scofield was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and was training with a retired police officer from Daytona Beach. They were riding on County Road 415, near Pioneer Trail, when 75-year-old Lajos Toth of Lake Helen ran a stop sign. Toth was driving a van, and collided with Scofield’s bike so hard that it was ripped in half, according to Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
“The impact was so incredible that it broke his bike in two and ripped his seat post off,” Chitwood said. He also told reporters that Toth was driving about 40 MPH, and the tragic accident caused Scofield a severe head injury he never recovered from.
A Navy veteran, Scofield began working for the Sheriff’s Department in 1995. He was a firearms instructor and member of the dive team and marine unit.
“When he shook your hand with those big hands of his, you knew he was your friend,” Chitwood said. “On the flip side of it, if you were breaking the law, you would also know he’s not the kind of guy you would want to come after you because he would come after you with everything that he had.”
Chitwood added that Scofield was devoted to his community. Mr. Scofield leaves behind a wife, three children, several grandchildren, a sister and many cousins. His family may have a wrongful death claim to pursue under Florida’s established negligence laws for lost wages, funeral expenses, and pain and suffering.
“He died doing what he loved,” Chitwood said. “He was passionate about doing the right thing and making a difference in this community – he was one of a kind.”