Arrest Made In Grandmother Tooter Crash
Highway Patrol Thinks They Found Driver Who Knocked 83-Year-Old Woman Off Interstate
Scott Andrew Campbell was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and a misdemeanor count of filing a false police report.
"I would like to thank family members for their support with our investigation. I know that it was a trying time for them but they were patient," said Maj. Rick Carpenter of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Police were able to make the connection to Campbell by matching paint chips from Tooter's Silver Tercel to the black Chevrolet Camaro Campbell was driving the morning of the accident.
VIDEOBLAST: Watch The Rescue
"It's been hard, it's been real hard. Not knowing whether she was alive or dead was torture," said Tooter's granddaughter, Lori Simms. "He left her to die is what he did and he should get what he deserves."
Tooter was missing for three days after her car plunged 40 feet off the Interstate. Capturing rain water in a wheel cover and eating a cough drop, a piece of gum and a pepperming she survived in snake infested swamp until a road crew worker spotted her.
A dramatic rescue followed as Fort Lauderdale Fire and Rescue clogged the Interstate and lowered a gurney down to the exhausted Tooter. The 83-year-old grandmother was pulled out of the swamp as news cameras rolled and she was then rushed to Broward General Medical Center.
Campbell's attorney, Lee Cohn, said his client told police there may have been another car involved the morning his car was damaged.
"He called the police, he called his mom and dad. He cooperated fully with the police." Cohn said. "He told them he hit something, he didn't know if it was a car or the wall or what. The trooper looked at the scene and called backups."
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. John Bagnardi disagrees. He said Campbell never mentioned that he may have hit another car.
Campbell is in Broward County jail and may be released sometime Thursday night.
