- December 4, 2025
Flagler County has announced that Deputy County Administrator Jorge Salinas and his wife have died in a "tragic car crash."
Salinas, 59, and his wife, Nancy, 60, were two of three fatalities in a hit-and-run car crash in Volusia County over the weekend. On Oct. 4, an SUV slammed into a sedan which then hit a motorcycle and the Salinas' Honda Pilot.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi confirmed the Salinas were two of the crash victims over an email.
The county announced it had learned of the Salinas' deaths in a social media post in the early afternoon of Oct. 6. There are no additional details available for release at this time, according to the Facebook post.
“Jorge was a very strong partner in leading Flagler County,” Administrator Heidi Petito said. “I can’t even imagine the depth of his loss to our community or the pain his children and family must feel. He is already missed.”
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners shared Petito's sentiment, and Chair Andy Dance said Salinas' death left a "significant void has been created in our Flagler County community."
“I am very saddened,” Dance said. “He was a trusted and respected member of the leadership team. My heart goes out to his children and family. Thank you, Jorge, for your service to us and your country."
The car crash occurred at 9:55 p.m. on Oct. 4 in the eastbound lanes on I-4, near mile marker 108 in DeBary.
A Dodge Durango changed lanes from the center lane to the right lane, hitting the driver side of a 2013 Ford Focus, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report, which then hit a motorcyclist. The Deltona man, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Focus was run off the road and hit the guardrail, before it reentered the eastbound lanes and hit a 2020 Honda Pilot, driven by Salinas. The two were pronounced dead at the scene.
Both husband and wife were pronounced dead on the scene while the driver of the Ford Focus, a 47-year-old Deltona woman, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the report said.
The driver of the Dodge Durango fled the scene. The SUV was later found empty by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office in an unoccupied parking lot.
"We're extremely saddened by the tragic passing of Deputy County Administrator Jorge Salinas," the FCSO said in a Facebook post on Oct. 6. "He was a dedicated public servant, and his contributions to Flagler County will always be remembered."
Palm Coast shared its own post extending the "deepest sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues" of Salinas.
Salinas worked for Flagler County for the last five years. He was originally hired in 2020 to become chief of staff for former Flagler County Administrator Jerry Cameron. He remained as Petito's right hand after she took over in 2021.
This story was updated at 9:50 p.m. on Oct. 6.
