Lake Worth man James Avera arrested after allegedly running over ex-girlfriend's head with truck

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Lake Worth man was arrested on Sunday after his ex-girlfriend was hospitalized for injuries she received when he allegedly ran over her skull with the back tire of a truck in West Palm Beach.

James Avera, 51, is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail without bond. He is facing charges of attempted murder, robbery and battery.

Avera was taken into custody after several witnesses identified him as the person who ran over his ex-girlfriend, Toni Baran, according to the probable cause affidavit.

When West Palm Beach Police responded to the 200 block of Wenonah Place around 9 p.m. Saturday to reports of a woman struck by a motor vehicle, they found Baran with the lower portion of her ear almost torn off, the affidavit stated.

She was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center, where she also underwent treatment for bumps and bruises she suffered from the incident.

Investigators learned from several witnesses, and Baran herself, that she and Avera were leaving from a friend's house when they got into an argument outside of the home.

Several witnesses saw Avera allegedly beat and choke Baran after he accused her of stealing $700 from him, according to the affidavit. Though witnesses interrupted the fight, Baran continued to struggle with Avera, after he took her purse and emptied its contents into the pickup truck they were riding in.

At some point, Avera began backing the truck up as Baran clung to a window. But when he pushed her out, Baran fell to the ground - right in the path of the truck's back tire, the affidavit stated.

Though several witnesses said yelled at him to stop, Avera allegedly drove away, running over Baran's head in the process.

Witnesses and Baran believe Avera purposely ran her over; with some saying he knew he ran her over because "the truck bounced up in the air," according to the affidavit.

At the hospital, Baran had her ear re-attached and was released.

Avera denied to investigators hitting or knowingly running over Baran. He admitted to taking her purse, but he said it was because she had stolen more than $1,000.

This morning, during Avera's first appearance hearing, Assistant State Attorney Mary Ann Duggan said it was "amazing" that Baran was released from the hospital.

"She's a very lucky lady," Duggan said.