Seven-Year-Old Victim Dies Days After Pasco County Rear-End Collision

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on January 4, 2023

A Pasco County community is rallying around a local family to show their love & support after their 7-year-old daughter sadly passed away from the injuries she received during a serious rear-end collision that occurred just a couple of days before the new year.

According to detailed auto accident reports from first responders with the Pasco County Fire Rescue and troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol, it was close to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2022, when 41-year-old Johanna Edwards and her two small children were stopped at the intersection of Lakepointe Parkway and State Road 54 in their Volkswagen Jetta, along with a Hyundai Tucson and a Jeep Wrangler.

It was while these three vehicles were waiting their turn at the intersection’s red light signal that a 26-year-old man behind the wheel of a Ford E350 box truck entered the area. This individual failed to yield for the approaching traffic and slammed into the back of the Volkswagen Jetta.

The force from the impact of the accident caused the Volkswagen Jetta to crash into the Jeep Wrangler while the box truck collided with both the Hyundai Tucson and the Jeep Wrangler.

Pasco County emergency medical teams and local law enforcement agencies were dispatched to the scene of the multi-vehicle pileup where they discovered the 41-year-old driver of the Jetta and her two children suffering from severe injuries. The mother and youngest child were taken to a nearby hospital and the 7-year-old was medevaced by helicopter from the crash site. One other adult was also transported to the hospital, but the identity of this person was not reported.

The 7-year-old car crash victim, Kinley Edwards, did not survive her injuries and died just a few days later. Her sister and mother remain hospitalized and face a long road to recovery, both physically and mentally. A GoFundMe account has been created by a close friend on behalf of the family.

Although local authorities indicated that the 26-year-old driver of the box truck was operating his vehicle in a “careless or negligent manner,” no formal charges have been officially filed at this time. However, this could certainly change considering this tragic turn of events.

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.