Destiny Gonzalez, Orlando mom carrying child in car seat along State Road 46 highway in Seminole County killed in crash at 3 a.m as family are baffled as to why she was walking the stretch of road and where she was heading.
A Florida mom was killed after she was struck by a pick-up truck while walking along State Road 46 in Seminole County carrying a car seat with her infant inside of it during early morning hours.
Despite dying from the impact, Destiny Gonzalez’ young child survived unscathed.
The crash was reported shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday morning, near the intersection of State Road 46 and Jungle Road, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said.
Area of crash notorious stretch of road, the site of multiple accidents
FHP said the 24-year-old Orlando area woman was walking westbound on State Road 46 (for reasons yet to be understood) and carrying a car seat with an infant inside of it.
At some point, Gonzalez was struck by a driver of a 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck, a 58-year-old man from Winter Springs, who was also traveling westbound.
The man stayed at the scene and was not charged.
People who live near the area described the stretch of State Road 46 as dangerous, especially at night, and the site of multiple serious crashes over the years.
‘It’s kind of a treacherous span of road between Sanford and Mims,’ a local told WESH. ‘It is scary driving it at night.’
Another local resident said that the roadway is poorly lit and difficult to navigate in the dark.
What was Orlando mom doing in the area, where had she come from and where was she heading?
FOX 35 citing family members said Gonzalez was the mother of a 9-month-old and a 1 ½-year-old and that her children were her entire world.
Family members said they are unsure why Gonzalez was in Geneva nor why she was walking along SR-46 as she does not live near that area, never mind traversing the area during early morning hours.
They described Gonzalez as a devoted mother of two young girls, saying her 9-month-old and 1½-year-old children were ‘her entire world.’ They said the family is ‘absolutely heartbroken’ and asked for prayers as they cope with the loss.
‘I just can’t imagine 3 a.m. being out at night walking with a baby,’ a neighbor said.
FHP said the cause of the crash remained under investigation.
