‘We are truly heartbroken’: Family releases statement following Florida crash that claimed lives of 4 loved ones
The Tuesday crash near Disney World killed Julie Smith, 41, of Whitman; her mother, 76-year-old Josephine Fay; and two of her children, 5-year-old Scarlett and 11-year-old Jaxon.
The Massachusetts family mourning the loss of four loved ones killed in a crash near Disney World on Tuesday released a statement thanking their community and first responders for the outpouring of support they have received since the tragedy.
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Eight members of the Smith and Fay family were traveling in a van in Kissimmee, Florida, where they were visiting Disney for school break, when their vehicle was rear-ended by a pickup truck. Julie Smith, 41, of Whitman, died at the scene of the crash, along with her daughter, 5-year-old Scarlett Smith, and mother, Josephine Fay, 76, of South Weymouth. Her son, 11-year-old Jaxon Smith, was critically injured and died at a Florida hospital Wednesday where he had been placed on life support, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
From left to right: Josephine Fay, Julie Smith, Jaxon Smith and Scarlett Smith.
The four surviving family members who were in the van — 76-year-old William Fay, 43-year-old Shane Smith, 10-year-old Shalie Smith, and 5-year-old Skylar Smith — sustained minor injuries and have been released from the hospital.
“The Fay / Smith Families greatly appreciate the outpouring of support and prayers as we process the events of this horrific tragedy,” the family said in a statement on Thursday, obtained by WCVB. “We are truly heartbroken.”
The family went on to thank the many people who have helped support them through “this difficult time.”
“We wanted to highlight the efforts of the first responders in Orlando, the medical staff at the Orlando Regional Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital, Disney, JetBlue, TSA, and the Massachusetts State Police,” the statement continued. “We also want to thank the Hartman Family who assisted in Orlando. We continue to grieve for the loss of our loved ones. Thank you for your outpouring of kindness.”
A GoFundMe page for the Fay/Smith family has raised more than $40,000 in 24 hours.
Authorities say the crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the southbound lane of State Road 429 in Osceola County when traffic slowed for congestion and the driver of the pickup, identified by police as 26-year-old Lucas Dos Reis Laurindo, of Kissimmee, allegedly failed to stop, striking the back of the van carrying the Massachusetts family. The van, driven by Shane Smith, overturned. Two other vehicles were hit in the crash, but authorities said those drivers were not injured.
Everyone in the van besides Shane Smith was wearing a seatbelt or child restraint at the time of the crash.
Authorities have said Laurindo is cooperating with the investigation, which is ongoing, and he is likely to face charges.
“We don’t know why this truck didn’t stop yet but clearly that truck is at fault for rear-ending the van and we just got to sort everything else out,” Lt. Kim Montes, a spokeswoman for Florida Highway Patrol, told WHDH.
Montes told The Boston Globe the investigation could take 180 days to complete, and charges would not be filed until that time.
“We’re kind of just in investigation mode,” she told the newspaper. “I know it’s hard for a lot of people, especially the family, is he going to be charged? [Laurindo] will be charged with something, but it’s really just too early to say.”
In Whitman, the community is joining together to support the Smith family. A vigil will be held Friday evening at Whitman Middle School on the soccer field. The event, organized by the Whitman Youth Soccer Association, will start at 7 p.m.
Jaxon Smith participated in the soccer program and was a “a brave and joyous player,” according to Massachusetts Youth Soccer.
Whitman Youth Soccer will hold a service on Friday for the Smith family.
“Whitman Youth Soccer invites the community to join us in a candlelight prayer service for the Smith family at 7PM on Friday, February 21st, at the Whitman Middle School’s Fenced-in Field”
— Mass Youth Soccer (@MAYouthSoccer) February 20, 2020
The town of Whitman will be holding a 7PM vigil tonight for the Fay / Smith family at this soccer field next to Whitman Middle School. #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/XL8S5CsOQq
— Adam Liberatore (@bostonTVguy) February 21, 2020
“Members from Whitman and Hanson are encouraged to attend this community gathering to show their support for the Smith family and their loved ones,” Whitman Police Chief Timothy Hanlon said in a statement.
https://www.facebook.com/guilfoilpr/posts/2182166088553358?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBTfMHiOxCzIdmV4dgmJdyhBn7xv87Z_Oud1iOcgKrNVzcSZ3lHnyY5HcEeDsqO6PHb_MZzlyLS3xvXyZaVAgN5cA1MrXLtCycnJMHXGU3eB_qTjG2F5Lmiv5AMnQaBLDWccWXz9dIKu73KQLeu3TEaf2UIlCZSksYPDPM-5CWCKUUNkAyPNKkyFsjz417RNuV5XU0A0FvgQU2Y-UYywyQPGVka-srWdYYbv_w2PemweHfikiyqvkuX9PhorVWkGqR5rQtm2ZFzTrXdRlyKIvNwYZprIxxnqW6X2FJpalhxNQH6SmKL0OHvtYhxPd-MOf9LGKyyIkmRvj3Ir3FGiAYloQ&__tn__=-R
Jaxon Smith was a student at Hanson Middle School, according Whitman-Hanson Regional School District Superintendent Jeffrey Szymaniak. His youngest sisters, 5-year-old Scarlett who was killed and her twin Skylar, attended a private preschool in Whitman. Shalie, 10, is in fourth grade in the district.
“We mourn together during this incredibly difficult time,” Szymaniak said in a statement.
The district announced that crisis teams across the schools have been mobilized to help students and their families process the tragedy. Counselors and support staff were at Hanson Middle School on Friday until noon for parents who felt their children needed support ahead of the restart of school on Monday.
According to the Globe, Julie Smith was the director of training in the human resources department at Liberty Mutual.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy involving the Smith family,” a spokesperson for the company told the newspaper. “Julie was a cherished employee and greatly touched the lives of all her colleagues. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Julie’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
Her mother, Josephine Fay, was a longtime faculty member at Quincy College, the school said in a statement, serving as a member of the Early Childhood Education faculty between 1993 and 2011.
“Upon her retirement in 2011 she continued to educate future teachers as an adjunct faculty member,” the college said. “She was a gifted instructor, and her untimely death saddens us all. She will be greatly missed by both her colleagues and her students in the Quincy College community. This loss is profoundly felt with the news of the passing of other family members.”
In Whitman, Hanlon said his department will assist Florida Highway Patrol “in any way they may need” as the investigation into the crash continues.
“This is a terrible loss for the entire Whitman community and our thoughts are with the loved ones of the family affected by this tragedy,” he said.
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