Bar fight leads to a fatal crash on State Road A1A.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

The Daytona Beach Police Department arrested Oneil S. Edwards, 29, of Daytona Beach, on Monday, July 25, 2022, for his involvement in a bar fight that led to the death of Alexander C. Simon of Ormond Beach.

According to reports, Edwards and Simon got into an altercation at the Ocean Deck Restaurant, located at 127 South Ocean Avenue in Daytona Beach, on Thursday, July 21, 2022, where various weapons were involved, including a firearm, a pocketknife, and a machete. The exact motive for the fight is still under investigation, but video of the incident shows Edwards attempting to stab Simon with a pocketknife at least four times.

After moving the fight into the parking lot, Edwards attacked Simon’s silver 2003 Ford truck by breaking his passenger window with the butt of a gun, attempting to fire the weapon at Simon; however, the gun experienced a malfunction and did not discharge.

Edwards proceeded to grab a machete from his car to break Simon's front driver’s side window as he drove away, heading south on South Atlantic Avenue/State Road A1A. Edwards pursued Simon in his Acura until Simon lost control of his truck after crossing the Silver Beach Avenue intersection. The truck rolled over before crashing into a concrete pole, causing Simon to be ejected from the vehicle, landing on a grass shoulder area on the east side of the road, where he passed away at the scene.

According to a release, Edwards was not at the crash scene when officers arrived, but he did return to the Ocean Deck voluntarily afterward and spoke to officers there. A Volusia County judge has signed off on a search warrant allowing investigators to gather more potential evidence. Edwards is under arrest on probable cause on three charges in the bar incident, including attempted second-degree murder, battery, and criminal mischief. He is in custody at Volusia County Jail, and held with no bond, as of Tuesday morning.

The traffic portion of this incident remains active and ongoing, and additional charges may be filed upon further investigation.