“Smashed the gas”: Driver accused of intentionally hitting man sitting on sidewalk

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Surveillance video shows a Texas man intentionally drive his car toward a man sitting on a Daytona Beach sidewalk, hitting and killing him, police said.

Officers said the video shows Anthony Adum, 38, of Monahans, Texas, drive directly at Christopher Watson, who was sitting on the sidewalk near West International Speedway Boulevard and Nova Road.

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A passenger who was in the car said Adum “smashed the gas” and intentionally hit Watson.

Officers said video shows that Adum was driving with his car door open and jumped from the moving vehicle just before it hit Watson.

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The passenger told investigators he met Adum hours before the crash and said he believed that Adum had been drinking and was also on drugs.

Prior to the crash, he told officers Adum had started to drive erratically, going over medians and through red lights.

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Police said the passenger told them that a woman got out of the car at a nearby Krispy Kreme because of how Adum was driving.

The passenger said Adum told him to “get out” of the car prior to the crash, but that the car was moving too fast for him to safely jump out.

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Officers said video from the intersection shows Adum drive in a circle through the intersection once and then again, the second time directly toward Watson, who was sitting on the curb.

Adum is charged with first-degree murder and is being held at the Volusia County Jail.

Police have not yet determined a motive.