OSCEOLA COUNTY, FL- A mother is mourning the loss of her three children, aged 1, 9, and 11, and her own mother. The incident, which occurred on Sunday evening, is currently under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The focus of the investigation is the 15-year-old driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash.
The teenager, who was driving on Laurel Avenue in Poinciana, reportedly failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with the family’s SUV. Migdalisis Garcia, a trooper with the FHP, revealed on Tuesday that the teen did not possess a learner’s permit. The question of whether charges will be filed is still under consideration as investigators continue to gather evidence and details.
The investigators are particularly interested in determining the speed of the vehicle at the time of the accident and how the teenager came to be driving the car. They are also looking into who permitted the teen to drive the vehicle.
The mother of the children, Sabrina Hernandez, is grappling with the devastating loss. “They were supposed to bury me, not the opposite way,” she expressed. Her father, who was also in the SUV, is the sole survivor of the crash.
The teen driver was not alone in the car at the time of the accident. Three other 15-year-olds were present and sustained minor injuries. The teen driver, who is awake and able to communicate, is expected to survive. The car he was driving is registered to an adult, and investigators are working to establish their relationship.
Garcia also addressed the potential liability of parents in such cases. If evidence suggests that the child had permission to drive the vehicle, the parent could be held accountable. She also advised families to ensure that teens with a permit drive responsibly and those without a permit should not have access to car keys.