With deep sorrow, family, friends, and the Daytona North and Bunnell communities are mourning the tragic loss of Melani Nicole Stodola, age 44, whose life was taken in a fatal crash late Monday morning on State Road 100 west of Bunnell.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:06 a.m. on February 2, 2026, between Bimini Lane and Bertha Road, as Melani was traveling eastbound in her blue 2009 Honda sedan. According to authorities, her vehicle rear-ended a farming vehicle described as a sod-cutter near 8067 State Road 100 West. The impact caused catastrophic damage to the front of her vehicle.
First responders from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Flagler County Fire Rescue arrived within minutes. Melani, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was found entrapped and without a pulse. Despite immediate and heroic life-saving efforts by deputies and paramedics, she was pronounced deceased at 11:15 a.m.
State Road 100 was shut down in both directions for several hours as emergency crews and investigators worked the scene. Westbound traffic was diverted at County Road 305, and eastbound traffic was diverted at Water Oak Road. The roadway reopened at approximately 3:00 p.m. The driver of the farming vehicle cooperated with authorities and provided a voluntary blood draw.
Melani’s sudden passing marks the second traffic-related death in Flagler County this year and the first fatal crash on West State Road 100 since April 2020. Her death has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
At just 44 years old, Melani’s life was taken far too soon. She will be remembered not for the tragic circumstances of her passing, but for the love she shared, the life she lived, and the lasting impact she made on those around her.
Rest in peace, Melani Nicole Stodola. You will forever be loved and remembered.
Related Posts
