A Fort Lauderdale, Florida man is mourning the loss of his mother, two weeks after she was killed while riding her scooter to work.
On February 17, grocery store employee Stefania Rodriguez, 47, was riding her scooter to work early in the morning when she was involved in an accident with an oncoming car. According to Fort Lauderdale police, Rodriguez was injured and taken to nearby Broward Health Medical Center, where she died.
“My angel was taken,” Rodriguez’s son, Tyler McGowan, told local NBC station NBC6 South Florida. “She was the light in my darkness. She was my number one fan.”
Tennessee school bus driver killed, 2 students injured in wrong-way crash
The driver remained at the scene of the 1:30 a.m. crash and received several traffic violations, police said. The investigation is still ongoing, the police added.
“She had life-threatening injuries and was going to the hospital after surgery,” McGowan told NBC6. “She succumbed to her injuries.”
“This whole tragedy has completely disrupted our family,” he continued. “I’m in disbelief. I feel like I hit my head and I’m dreaming about all this. This doesn’t seem like reality to me.”
McGowan also set up a GoFundMe for the rest of Rodriguez’s family, including her other two young sons. By Wednesday evening, more than $13,000 had been raised.
“Your mom was [special] lady,” wrote one GoFundMe donor on Friday. “We will certainly miss her bright light.”
Missing 5-year-old girl with autism found safe in Florida woods after wandering away from home
“I’m so sorry for the loss of your mom. I still vividly remember meeting her for the first time when we were younger,” another wrote on Saturday. “… You have my deepest condolences, sympathy and prayers.”
“Whenever she walked into a room, she completely captured the spirit of the room,” McGowan told NBC6 of his late mother. “All eyes were on her.”
Want to keep up with the latest crime reports? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for the latest crime news, coverage of ongoing trials and details on intriguing unsolved cases.
McGowan hopes his mother’s death will give others a chance to think about the importance of safe driving.
“Slow down,” he told NBC6. “Think of your loved ones. Life is fragile. Your life is precious. Your actions affect others more than you think.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education