INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A Vero Beach woman who drove while intoxicated, causing the death of a U.S. Navy veteran, was jailed Thursday on two second-degree felony charges, court records show. The July 3 crash claimed the life of Harry Tolson III, 62, of Vero Beach, who was the owner and operator of Vero Remodeling, LLC, according to his obituary.
Prosecutors said Debra Regina Story had a blood-alcohol level about two times over the legal limit.
Story, 66, of the 500 block of 12th Road, Vero Beach, was charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. Story was held Friday at the Indian River County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Details on the crash were limited since the investigation remains active. The wreck occurred about 4:16 p.m. in the 1200 block of 6th Avenue, north of 12th Street, east of U.S. 1 and just south of the Vero Beach city limits, records show.
Story lived less than half-a-mile from where the fatal crash occurred. It was not immediately clear if Tolson was driving a vehicle or walking when he was struck.
Tolson’s obituary described him as an avid motorcyclist who was young at heart and a hard worker. Tolson was a certified residential contractor, according to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.
Prosecutors formally filed charges against Story on Wednesday. Deputies detained the woman and booked her into the county jail.
Story was ordered not to have contact with Tolson’s family, court records show. Prosecutors also filed traffic citations against Story for vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.
Story has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 21, court records show.
