2 Teens Die in Rollover Crash After Their Car Attempted to Pass Another Vehicle: ‘Had Their Whole Future Ahead of Them’

Two teenagers were killed and several others were hospitalized after a two-car collision on Florida’s State Road 33.

The crash occurred around 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, when a 16-year-old girl driving a 2008 Toyota Scion tried to pass another vehicle in a designated no-passing zone, according to the Orlando Sentinel, the Daily Commercial and Fox 35 Orlando, which cited the Florida Highway Patrol.

Authorities said the teen moved into the northbound lane and saw a 2021 Lincoln Aviator, driven by a 75-year-old Lakeland man, coming toward her in the same lane. She attempted to steer back into her original lane, but reportedly lost control of the car and veered back into the oncoming lane, directly into the path of the Lincoln Aviator. The SUV then struck the Scion, causing it to overturn.

The 16-year-old driver and her male passenger, who was also a teenager, were pronounced dead at the scene.

A 6-year-old child riding in the Lincoln Aviator was seriously injured and taken to a nearby hospital. The 75-year-old driver and two additional passengers — a 66-year-old woman and a 5-year-old boy — sustained minor injuries and were also transported to a local hospital.

One witness to the immediate aftermath of the crash, Nelida Capo, told WESH-TV, “The car, it was in pieces. It was a really, really bad accident, really bad.”

The teenagers killed in the crash were identified by WESH-TV as 16-year-old Jade and her boyfriend, 17-year-old Jose Ivan. They were students at South Lake High School in Groveland, Lake County Schools confirmed, per Fox 35 Orlando.

“We are deeply saddened to confirm the tragic loss of two South Lake High School students, one Junior and one Sophomore,” Lake County Schools said in a statement to the outlet. “Our hearts go out to their families, friends, and the entire school community during this difficult time.”

The district added that grief counselors would be available on campus throughout the week for students and staff, noting, “Together, we will lean on one another and provide the care and support our community needs.”

On GoFundMe, Jade’s family remembered her as “full of love, laughter, and a spirit that brightened every room she walked into.” Ivan was described as a “bright, kind, and loving young man with his whole future ahead of him.”

On Monday, Nov. 17, friends and loved ones gathered at a memorial at Lake Catherine Farms to honor the teens, according to WESH-TV.

“Those were two souls that belonged to our community who were going to do great things in our community,” Melissa Martin, one of the memorial’s organizers, told the outlet. “I personally don’t think I’ve let myself catch up with my emotions.”