TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said a family was injured at an intersection on Tuesday morning. One of the children died from their injuries.
“It’s a terrible tragedy that this family is going to have to live with forever,” said Thomas St. John, the Hillsborough County Undersheriff.
In a press conference on Nov. 4, St. John said a 45-year-old mom and her two children were walking on their way to school when a 77-year-old driver hit them in his truck.
Around 7:30 a.m., deputies responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash at the intersection of Mohr Road and Sheldon Road in Tampa.
Authorities said the family was using the cross walk and had the signal to cross Sheldon Road.
“The driver did have the green light but as drivers, it’s imperative on us to pay attention – the pedestrians always have the right of way,” said St. John.
While the driver was attempting to make a right hand turn onto Sheldon, St. John said he apparently didn’t see them and struck the family.
When deputies arrived, they found a woman and her two children suffering from injuries.
HCSO said deputies began rendering first aid and called EMS, but shortly after, Rosangela Segundo-Osorio, the 6-year-old girl, died from her injuries.
The mother and her 10-year-old son were taken to the hospital with some broken bones.
HCSO said they’re expected to be okay.
“It’s every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Ehab Ismail, a neighbor. “When something like this happens out of nowhere, it’s troubling, because, you want to feel safe when you’re just crossing the road.”
Ismail lives close by, and said he is saddened by the news, especially being a parent himself.
“Such a small, young child – a soul, a whole life to live – the way anything can happen at an instant like that – it’s very sobering, but also very saddening,” said Ismail.”
HCSO said the driver was taken to the hospital for medical treatment as well.
Authorities said he will be cited for violation of right of way involving a death, which is a $1000 fine. And, he will automatically have his license suspended for six months.
“We can quite simply avoid these tragedies if we just paid attention,” said St. John.
Tampa Bay 28 emailed Hillsborough County Schools and the Catholic Schools on whether the little girl was in their school system, and they said no.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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