Office of the State Attorney

PRESS RELEASE

November 27, 2022      

 

State of Florida v. Tamara Lynn Sytch

                                                                                               

DOB: 12/07/1972                  

Case Number: 2022 302084 CF

 

Sytch Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Deadly DUI Crash

DAYTONA BEACH – After a hearing today, defendant Tamara Sytch was sentenced to 17.6 years in prison followed by eight years of probation. Sytch pled in August to driving without a license with death, DUI manslaughter, four counts of DUI with damage to person and two counts of DUI with damage to property.

On March 25, 2022, while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the defendant was driving at a high speed on North Yonge Street in Ormond Beach and crashed into the rear end of the victim’s vehicle, which was stopped at a red traffic light. This caused the victim’s vehicle to collide with another vehicle in front of him.

The 75-year-old victim died at the scene from his injuries. The driver and three passengers from the third vehicle involved were treated for minor injuries.

Sytch’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) an hour after the crash was between a .32 and .34, which is more than four times the legal limit. The defendant also had an unsealed bottle of vodka in her vehicle and cannabis in her system.

“The defendant’s history of drinking and driving is horrendous. She was Death On Wheels,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about Sytch. “It was only a matter of time before her drunk driving killed an innocent and unsuspecting individual.”

“I am hopeful that today’s outcome will ease the pain inflicted upon the victim’s family and friends,” Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey added. “The hard work that the officers, civilian employees and prosecutors did to ensure that justice was served today is commendable. I am proud of the team that helped get this dangerous and reckless person off of our streets.”

The case was investigated by the Ormond Beach Police Department with assistance from the Daytona Beach Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant State Attorneys Ashley Terwilleger and Helen Schwartz successfully prosecuted the case for the state. The Honorable Karen Foxman presided over the case and pronounced sentence.

 

For more information contact: 

Haley Harrison | Multimedia Specialist/PIO | Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza, Florida's Seventh Judicial Circuit | SAOPIO@SAO7.org