Crystal Daniels, a 44-year-old mother of two in Florida, was killed on her way to work when a pickup truck that police said had been reported stolen ran a red light and struck her Jeep.
The collision happened shortly after 4.20am local time on Monday 9 November at State Road 19 and Guerrant Street in Umatilla, Lake County. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigators say the pickup’s driver had fled an attempted stop by Umatilla police.
What happened at the junction
According to state troopers, a 2018 Nissan Frontier was travelling south on State Road 19 when its driver entered the intersection against a red signal. It struck the driver’s side of a 2019 Jeep Cherokee travelling east on Guerrant Street.
Daniels was pronounced dead at the scene. FOX 35 Orlando identified her as a mother of two who lived just blocks from the collision site and was travelling to work.
FOX 35 reported that the Florida Highway Patrol placed the pickup’s speed at about 60mph in a 30mph zone. Footage obtained from nearby businesses and Umatilla City Hall shows the moments leading up to the collision, according to the station.
Police say an officer had not begun a pursuit
There is an important distinction between a driver fleeing an attempted traffic stop and an established police pursuit. Umatilla Police Chief David Seeley told FOX 35 that an officer clocked the pickup speeding and activated emergency lights, but did not have time to initiate a pursuit before the crash.
The Nissan had been reported stolen, according to the Highway Patrol. Authorities have not publicly identified its driver in the reports available at the time of writing.
What investigators have said
The pickup driver was injured and taken to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford. Earlier reports described serious injuries; FOX 35 subsequently reported that the driver was in critical condition. Authorities initially considered transporting him by air, but fog prevented a helicopter transfer, the station reported.
The crash remains an active criminal investigation. Police Chief Seeley told FOX 35 that a felony murder charge could be considered because the collision involved a reported stolen vehicle. That is a potential charge, not confirmation that any charge has been filed.
Local community mourns
The death has shaken the small Umatilla community. FOX 35 spoke to a supervisor at a nearby heating and cooling company whose surveillance system recorded evidence of the impact. Local reporting describes the loss felt by Daniels’ family and neighbours.
Watch: WESH 2 coverage
The video above is the WESH 2 News report supplied with this story. It includes footage from the area and coverage of the fatal collision.
What remains unclear
The driver’s identity, any formal criminal charges and the full findings of the collision investigation have not been publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed. Police and troopers have not announced a final determination of criminal liability.
Sources
- FOX 35 Orlando, 9 November 2026: Crystal Daniels identified, police-chief account and CCTV reporting
- WFTV, 9 November 2026: Florida Highway Patrol crash details
- Inside Lake, 9 November 2026: Local FHP account and driver injuries
- Florida Highway Patrol official traffic incident listing, 9 November 2026
- WESH 2 News video report
