Note: Funeral services for Tricia James are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6, at Newcomer Cremation and Funeral Service in Titusville (2400 South Washington Avenue). Visitation is at noon. The service is at 1 p.m.
Tricia A. James, 22, of Ormond Beach, was killed at 1 a.m. Thursday in a head-on collision in Palm Coast as she drove on Pine Lakes Parkway. Her car collided with an SUV driven by James J. Rumph of Palm Coast. Rumph, 18, is recovering from serious injuries at Florida Hospital Flagler.
The collision was devastating to both vehicles, but the Durango weighs 5,000 pounds, the Mailibu just 3,000 pounds. The Malibu’s front was compacted into a coil of metals that pushed against the driver’s side, where James was entrapped. The left-front of the Durango was severely damaged. The impact, which took place the length of two light poles south of Woodbury Drive, left the Durango in the middle of the road, while the Durango was shoved into grass on the west shoulder, where the SUV ended up facing east, perpendicular to the road. James was pronounced dead at the scene by Flagler County Fire Rescue paramedics.
The road was dry and lit. The medical examiner was at the scene before 2 a.m., but as the investigation at the scene continued, the extraction of the victim did not start until 3 a.m. Because of the severity of the wreck, it was a laborious, careful process that was over at 3:30 a.m., on the coldest night this fall: it was 38 degrees by the time Palm Coast Fire Department rescuers completed their work.
Pine Lakes Parkway remained closed until past 4 a.m. in both directions, between Woodbury Drive and at Westhampton Drive. The Palm Coast Fire Police controlled traffic.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that both drivers were wearing their seat belts (and both vehicles’ air bags deployed). No alcohol was found in Rumph’s system. Rumph, who suffered a broken ankle, had volunteered a blood sample at the scene. A determination on alcohol regarding James is pending, according to the FHP. In August, James was arrested in Flagler County on a disorderly intoxication charge.
Melissa says
We were driving by when this accident first happened!! I’m sad the women didn’t make it! I’m happy Jamie made it okay!! Such an awful beginning of thanksgiving!! Jamie I hope you recover fast!!
Lauri Rumh says
thank you for stopping and being there for jayme, it really meant alot to him, thank you for the phone, he will always be greatful for your help. we really have alot to be thankful for today.
Genie says
Saw this and my heart sank. Another needless death. And Jamie will have to live with this one for the rest of this life.
Suggestion: Maybe we need more police out late at night in areas where these fatalities are occurring? Their presence might prevent some of this, or at least get some of these drivers off the road.
heart hurts says
i’m fell sorry for the parents of this young lady,police will not slow them down,thay will do it any . i just hope drinking or drugs was not the cause of it,i see to many young people out drinking and driving every day,and it really hurts the parents don’t have control over them.and the young people that says thay fell bad about it,but thay don’t learn from it. my heart hurts for the parents cause just mybe they could have helped her earlyer in life.
danielle lomelino says
Don’t you dare question how she was raised, she had a beautiful caring family.
The Geode says
Most of us have a ¨loving and caring family¨. Nobody is faulting the PARENTS. I also have a child close to that age and done my darnedest to teach him right, but as most young adults do – they insist upon finding out life the hard way. I sympathize for you and hope you don’t take my opinion the wrong way.
Anonymous says
Tricia James was the one who was driving erratically, James Rumph was the one that got hit. Regardless it was a horrible accident
Mario says
Horrific pictures. Gruesome accident. But, was it really an “accident”, or was it preventable. It was preventable without a doubt. But, not preventable by having more police, more lighting, better roads, or doing anything else, as these are conditions that we as drivers must adjust to when we are in control of a vehicle. The only question that remains, is why did this person cross the center line and cause the total destruction of property and the unimaginable pain and tragic death of a very young human being. The person who caused the death of another human being while driving a vehicle through negligence, should be charged with vehicular manslaughter. But, I understand FL laws don’t protect the victims of vehicular manslaughter. That is the travesty here. That is what should be changed.
Mario says
Sorry, I read the story again. Some of the initial posts were confusing. It appears the girl who crossed the center line and caused the crash, died at the scene. The young man who was hit by the young girl, was not at fault. Tragedy either way. So terrible to lose loved ones, especially during the holidays. My thoughts and prayers go out to both families. So sad.
Nancy says
Enough lighting, nothing wrong with that road.surface..police would have had to be on that road at the time. They just did replace a light struck by a car about a quarter mile from Woodbury -near Lutheran Church. Was, not so long ago another fatal accident occurred where a driver made a turn off Woodbury onto Pine Lakes into oncoming traffic.
Feel horrible for family who lost their loved one.
Anonymous says
SIMPLE. SLOW DOWN!
Beachlvr84 says
@Genie – Maybe I’m interpreting your comment wrong but why would Jamie have to live with this one the rest of his life?? Rumpf was the one driving erratically per the report. Bad situation all around and regardless, no one deserves to die but on what is considered the biggest drinking night of the year, I’m willing to bet the erratic driving stemmed from intoxication. 22… What a waste :(
Geezer says
Beachlvr84:
Any person who is a decent human being will be scarred from
an experience such as this. (even if it isn’t remotely their fault)
The comment should be taken as complimentary to the boy (young man).
Yup, you misinterpreted.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, and every one else who frequents Flaglerlive.com.
Cypress Grand says
According to a Florida Highway Patrol investigator at the scene, James, who had reportedly been driving erratically, crossed the center line at the point of impact, into Rumph’s lane.
People are NOT reading this news item correctly — not comprehending what they are reading; Tricia James (the fatality) crossed the center line into the young man’s (James Rumph) lane.
markingthedays says
Wow. What a bummer.
Shawn says
It’s not Jamie, it’s James, and neither were under the influence it was a windy a night cars tend to weave more she could of lost control and went over into his lane.
Anonymous says
rip rich homie tricia
Ben Dover says
:Prayers go out to her family , I know what its like to have a family member one day and just gone the next totally different then when they are sick and you know its coming , both are devastating,but the shoc hope she didn t suffer, and I hope Jamie gets help dealing with it, life just isn t fair sometimes
Anonymous says
Driving erratically on thanksgiving eve. Better check out Finns or Fuego to see if see was drink there. Being from the area it is like a high school reunion there on thanksgiving eve. Feugo was even promoting an event for the night.
Anonymous says
Rest in peace Tricia. I pray all who knew her remember her well. She was a young woman of many strengths and didn’t deserve this fate. Each moment in time is filled with the choices we make. Let this be a lesson on this Thanksgiving for us to choose what we do with our time wisely and with good heart.
TyCobbHimself says
Funny how people CAN’T READ THE DAMN ARTICLE. The girl was at fault not the guy!
GoodFella says
@mario did you read the whole story. It was the female who passed away that crossed the line and caused her own death. So there is no manslaughter charges to be had. It was an accident and she paid with her life. Very sad story, so please get your facts straight before you go bashing someone.
Mario says
@ GoodFella: Yes, I know and posted an apology at 3:43 today. Wish my original post could be deleted. Sorry.
Anonymous says
To Beachlver84. The report says Tricia James is the one who was driving erratically and swerved over into Jayme Rumph’s lane, it says Rumph volunteered a blood sample at the scene and no alcohol was found in his system
JustWondering says
The likelihood of the Malibu remaining in the proper lane if it were the at fault vehicle seems like a long shot.
Nicole Benson says
Thanks, Danielle. Obviously, we can blame this on anything we want, but it won’t bring her back.
Anonymous says
People are on her bashing an amazing kind awesome girl today’s thanksgiving instead of worrying about talkin trash an bashing her pray for her parents that will remember thanksgiving as something great an to spend with your love ones as the day they lost their daughter. T.James you’ll forever be missed I love u girly thankfull for another angel lookin over me class 2010 love ya girl
Friend says
If Tricia was the one who crossed into his lane… Why is her car still on her own side of the road?
Something has been over looked here.
[Friend, the point of impact at the scene was evident from the debris in the northbound lane. The impact pushed the Malibu back into the southbound lane, just as the SUV ended up in the grass. Had the final positions of the two vehicles been where they’d actually been driving at the moment of impact, the SUV would have been heading east, on an invisible road that was crossing Pine Lakes.–FL]
Yea says
Sure. I passed by where it happened and you can CLEARLY see skid marks from where she had stopped her car (probably because she saw this car coming) about 10 feet before the impact. Would there be any skid marks if she didn’t? Probably not. Would there be skid marks if THAT were the point of impact? Maybe.. However, that wasn’t the point of impact. It is apparent that she saw this car coming at her and instead of swerving into the grass, she decided to step on her brakes which ultimately took her life. The likelihood of her car staying in the same lane if she was the one at fault is slim to none. She was completely stopped when this boy slammed into her car and that is evident from the scene.
PS: Her skid marks stayed in her own lane the entire way down.
Mario says
Flagler Live: We all need an update to this story with clarification on exactly what happened this fateful night: who was really at fault, what were the results from alcohol/drug toxicity screens, what did the follow-up investigation determine was the actual point of impact, how did the vehicles end up in the locations that we see in the photo’s, what speeds were they traveling to create such destruction, what did the autopsy show, etc., so we all better understand the events that led to this incredible tragedy. Investigative Journalism please. Thank you.
Are you Serious? says
Why are we is such need to appoint blame to someone or something? The Police, the lighting, drinking, Fuego, Finns, the families, the Planetary alignment??? It is an accident, that is the very definition. Neither of these two individuals plotted to make this horrific accident happen. How about some compassion for the incredible sorrow and pain this accident, yes accident, has inflicted on family and friends of this terrible tragedy on a day which families and friends are giving thanks??
I am truly sorry to the friends and families of both parties, neither of which wanted or deserved what occurred. I wish you strength and resolve as you attempt to move past this.
Anonymous says
Tricia was a lovely caring person. She loved life and lived it that way. Her Red Lobster family is hurting. It was a very very sad day for us. She was a bright shining star. We will all miss her so much.
We pray for her family as they make her final arrangements.
We pray the young man and his family thru this difficult time.
Genie says
It was not my intent to blame anyone. What I was referring to is that James will likely never forget this, most involved in fatal accidents don’t. And they were both so very young.
In many towns, police DO station themselves outside popular clubs and bars late at night on holidays and have been very effective in stopping those who shouldn’t be driving.
Doubtful there is a person on this site who hasn’t driven when they should not have. “There but for the grace of God go I.”
eye witness says
You people have this so wrong. I was driving north on Pine Lakes Parkway and was run off the road by the car only seconds after I passed WestHampton. I called 911 and reported the instance. It had to have been less than 30 seconds later the the car, which was in the northbound lanes, driving south went around that slight curve there and slammed into the Durango. The driver of the car is TOTALLY at fault. I had to serve completely into the grass to avoid an impact, you can even see my tire mark on the road about 2/10ths of a mile north of the accident.
You can also see WHERE the impact clearly was. IN the NORTHERN lane, not the southern lane. I’m sorry for the injuries the male in the car has, but he needs to be held responsible for this poor girls death.
I know it took my over a half hour to stop shaking and knowing I was that close to losing my life has really been a shock. Reading what everyone has written here has been shocking as well. Let’s just hope the FHP can analyze a scene and listen to 911 calls before they make any judgement.
CORRECTION says
Eye witness it seems like you may have it all wrong. The girl was in the car and the boy was in the Dodge SUV.
“James was traveling south on Pine Lakes, at the wheel of a tan 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. Rumph was driving a 2007 Dodge Durango. ”
James being the females last name and Rumph is the males.
Derek Hooper says
I don’t know how any of you people that are trying to place blame on that little girl can even live with yourselves. Even if this accident was her fault, how dare you sit there and write anything negative about her. Don’t you realize that her family is going to read these comments? I feel bad that the young man has some injury’s do to this accident but for anyone to say anything bad about a young 22 year old girl who just lost her life is just pathetic.
Nikia says
Everyone here needs not sympathy but rather empathy for the victims, their friends and family and empathy for each other. Can’t believe the judgement being passed on this page.
Mario, kudos to you for standing up to your original misunderstanding.
Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes mistakes end tragically.
That one girl says
Well… My curiosity got the best of me. I looked her up on Facebook, tracked a post with a tag of guy friend she posted in that night (Wednesday —>Thursday morning) the guy posted … I didn’t think she was drunk when we left the bar… The power of social media.
Not saying she was or wasn’t just thankful another young mans life was spared.
Hope her family and friends find peace and closure and the Rumph family can heal and move forward.
Concerned says
My heart felt sorrow and prayers go out to that young girl parents and family. So sad .
donna civitarese says
Tricia was a loving and caring person who never set out to cause this accident. She loved life and lived it that way.
She was a bright shining star and forever will shine now in the heavens.
Her Red Lobster family will miss her deeply. It was a sad difficult day for us.
We pray for her family as they make her final arrangements that they may make some sense of this.
We pray for the young man and his family.
And when your tempted to write something negative REMEMBER IT COULD HAPPEN TOO ANYONE. PLEASE BE KIND AS HER FAMILY DOESN’T DESERVE THIS.
Heavyheart says
Nobody knows why this happened, just that a human being lost her life and another human was injured. Prayers go out to both families.
Mario says
I am really sorry for posting anything about this unbelievably tragic event other than: my heart is broken thinking about the loss of life of a young girl just driving home to be with her loved ones. As a father and grandfather, I can only imagine the grief and pain this girls family and close friends are feeling and I send my condolences and sympathy to those who knew her, loved her and cherished her.
Anonymous says
I used to work in a Drunk Driving Monitoring Program. Nobody gets up in the morning and says, “I think I’ll go out, have a few drinks and then drive home drunk today.” It can, and does, happen to anyone; young or old, male or female and all colors, religions, ethnitcities, etc.. My sympathies to all involved in this tragedy. The best way to honor this young woman, and all vicitms hurt of similar situations, would be to learn something that might help wise up the rest of us.
Crystal says
RIP Tricia, you were such a great caring person. I still can see you in the break room eating big lobster tails! We will all miss you, you’re in a better place now ! So sad I missed Cracker Barrel with you :(
The Geode says
Had this been an older person whom we could write off easily – would the opinions differ? I have seen different comments from other stories when people lack total sympathy whenever the person at fault causes a wreck (this was NOT an accident) due to DUI. (not confirmed) Granted, a person lost their life but ALL loss of life is tragic when it ends violently. I am glad that the innocent driver who was just minding his business will be ok.
Taylor Lang says
Regardless of who was at fault, what happened, how they could of prevented it, ect… Someones life was taken that night. A life that brought a lot of joy into her friends hearts. A life who was so charming. She was a smart girl, she knew what she was getting herself into. Us teenagers put ourselves in the most dangerous situations everyday. The real message is to mourn for those who have lost such an amazing friend. I love Tricia James. She is a beautiful soul. It hurts to see the insensitive people who didnt know her bash her for her decision. Shes passed. PLEASE leave her name in peace.
Genie says
@ Taylor Lang: Beautifully stated, Taylor. Yes, we will miss her very much. For some reason, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her.
Teenagers shouldn’t be putting themselves into dangerous situations AT ALL. Remember that each of you are loved and treasured. Try and use good judgement and slow down, please.
Rest in peace, Tricia. Your loss is heart breaking.
S B L says
I miss you Tricia and I love you.
Ash says
I am missing you every day dude and i love you and not one day gets easier, especially being 100’s of miles away from you. i love you so much seesh
PT says
Over four years have passed and my heart still sinks every time I drive by the scene of the accident.