DDN – A mother of four died Friday morning in a multi-vehicle incident at Busch Gardens. Jessica Wiggins reported that her daughter, 26-year-old Paige Howard, dropped off two of her children at daycare.
She was driving on E. Bougainvillea Avenue, making a left turn. According to police, a Dodge Ram driver was headed southbound on McKinley Drive when he collided with Howard, who was driving a Kia Sorento.
The driver and passenger of the Dodge Ram were sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Wiggins claimed she received a knock on the door from a police detective.
“They asked me to come out and have a seat, and they told me there was a fatal car accident, and my daughter was killed,” she recounted.
“I was shocked. I couldn’t believe that was my daughter.
Wiggins stated that her daughter leaves behind four children. Her youngest child is three years old.
“When I had to break the news to my seven-year-old granddaughter, all she did was hold me and cry. “I can’t live without my mom,” Wiggins explained.
“My youngest grandchild, the 3-year-old, keeps going over to her picture and saying mommy, mommy and looking and running to the front door, waiting for her to come home.”
The family set up a GoFundMe page to aid with funeral expenses for her four children.
“We’re still very shocked. I still haven’t slept in days. I’ll fall asleep for an hour or so, then wake up crying. “I just can’t believe she’s gone,” Wiggins said.
According to Tampa Police, a third vehicle heading southbound on McKinley Dr. attempted to avoid the collision but slammed into a forested area. The driver and only occupant, an adult male, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A fourth vehicle was struck by debris from the initial collision. The driver and only occupant, an adult female, were not wounded.
Police have not disclosed information regarding the events leading up to the incident.
Reference: 26-year-old mother of four dies following multi-vehicle crash near Busch Gardens
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