BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The 20-year-old Palm Bay woman killed in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 95 late Sunday night has been identified by her family as Cassi Taylor.
Taylor died at the scene on I-95 southbound near mile marker 214 shortly before midnight on Aug. 30, according to a Florida Highway Patrol crash report. A fundraiser posted by her family confirms her identity.
According to FHP, a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-350 driven by a 58-year-old man from Canada was traveling southbound in the center lane at approximately 11:52 p.m. when the driver saw an alligator in the roadway. The driver was unable to avoid the animal, and the front left of the Mercedes struck it.
Taylor was driving a 2004 Toyota Tacoma southbound behind the Mercedes. Troopers say she swerved in an attempt to avoid the vehicle ahead of her, lost control, and the pickup overturned. Taylor was ejected and came to rest in the center lane.
A third vehicle, described in the report only as an unknown vehicle traveling southbound, then struck Taylor and fled the scene. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes was not injured and remained at the location.
The crash is being investigated by Trooper Provencher, with Corporal Wenzel assigned as homicide investigator. The case remains open under FHP case number FHHP26ON0405916.
Family raising funds for cremation and services
A fundraiser hosted by Local Helping Hands Foundation, Inc. on behalf of Taylor’s family describes her as the daughter of Dana (Scott) Burke and Travis (Kasey) Taylor. The page says Taylor had wished to be cremated and that cremation costs alone are approximately $2,500.
The family wrote that they are seeking to cover cremation costs, a service, an urn, and other expenses including lost wages. The page describes Taylor as a young woman with a heart of gold who will be dearly missed.
As of Sunday, the fundraiser had raised $1,845 from 14 donors toward its goal. The campaign can be found here.
Anyone with information asked to call
FHP is asking anyone with information about the vehicle that struck Taylor and left the scene to contact troopers at *347 or CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS. Tips to CrimeLine may be left anonymously.
Under Florida law, leaving the scene of a crash involving a death is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of four years.
The Space Coast Rocket will update this story as more information becomes available.
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