Police identify victim of crash, 15-year-old arrested

78-year-old woman killed while sitting in car in church parking lot

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After a 78-year-old woman was killed in a crash in a Westside church parking lot Tuesday afternoon, police have charged a 15-year-old boy with leaving the scene of an accident involving a death.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office identified the victim as Mavis Tutson, who police say died after a speeding SUV driven by Keith Hartley failed to negotiate a curve on Edgewood Avenue West, went over a curb and sidewalk into the parking lot of the Zion Hope Baptist Church. There the SUV struck Tutson's stopped vehicle.

Police say Hartley (pictured in JSO booking photo, right) and at least one other teen got out after the crash and ran.

Hartley and a second teenager were apprehended and taken to UF Health Jacksonville with non-life-threatening injuries.

In addition to the first-degree felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident, Harley was also charged with driving without a license.

Tutson's family spoke Wednesday afternoon to Channel 4. Tutson's grandson said that he and his family are stunned at what happened to their grandmother.

"It's really something we're trying to process right now, been so busy haven't had a chance to process this," said Nathan Tatham. "She's life of the party, knows everybody. Take care of everybody, everybody knows Miss Mavis."

"It's a shock, a lot to take in. I spent the most time with her, come here, check on her," said Justin Tatham. "Take her trash out every week, it's just a lot to take in."

Tutson's family is still trying to understand the sudden death of their beloved grandmother.

"We're trying to make sense of it all but to be honest, she was where she needed to be at that point," Tutson's cousin, Thurman Tutson. "All I can see is hand of God. It was tragedy, but God's will will be done. It was just her time to leave. It was just sad the way she left."

Harley was booked into the juvenile detention center.


About the Authors:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.