Four-Car Crash Claims the Life of a Hernando County Mother of Three
Family members and loved ones gathered together Sunday evening to participate in a vigil to remember a 35-year-old mother and her 6-month-old son who were both tragically killed during a wrong-way car accident along U.S. 19 last Monday near Spring Hill.
According to early incident reports from the responding authorities with the Florida Highway Patrol, it was right after 10 a.m. on January 10, 2022, when 30-year-old Corey Andrew French from Brooksville was driving his pickup against the correct flow of traffic along U.S. 19. As the wrong-way driver approached the highway’s intersection Breakwater Boulevard, the truck crashed into an SUV carrying 35-year-old Amber West and her 6-month-old son Kody. After the first accident with the Weeki Wachee mom and child, the pickup truck was propelled into another SUV that was in the area. The force from the second accident caused the second SUV to crash into another pickup truck in the vicinity. All in all, four vehicles were involved in the pileup.
Local Hernando County emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of the accident shortly after it occurred and within a matter of minutes, were able to determine that 35-year-old Amber West had sustained life-threatening injuries during the multi-vehicle pileup and had already passed away. Her 6-month-old son was immediately transported to a nearby hospital but was unable to survive the severity of his injuries and he passed away as well.
Corey Andrew French sustained minor injuries during the collision and remained in a medical facility for close to a week before he was released Tuesday afternoon. At 2 p.m. that same day, officers with the Florida Highway Patrol arrested French for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of injunction for possessing a firearm (VOP). Charges for the fatal auto accident are still pending since the investigation is currently ongoing. The suspect is being held at the Hernando County Detention Center.
Amber West was also a mother to two other young children: a five-year-old and a ten-year-old son. “She had a way about her that could make anyone smile. Wildly creative. A devoted mother. She loved, loved her boys so much,” said her close friend.
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.