OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Members of the Osceola County law enforcement community and the family of two people killed in a street racing crash gathered for a roadside vigil on Friday night.
More than 50 people showed up near the intersection of U.S 192 and Secret Lake Drive.
On April 2, investigators said a 19-year-old driving a Dodge Charger failed to slow down and crashed into a Toyota RAV4 killing an 11-year-old girl and a 23-year-old woman days later from her injuries.
Chastrine Rios represented the victims’ families.
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“I stand here on behalf of the family because it was multiple families. Please continue praying for the families that were affected,” Rios said.
Troopers said the street racing crash happened around 11 p.m. on April 2 near the intersection of U.S. 192 and Secret Lake Drive. The crash is one of many street racing crashes across Central Florida that has shaken the law enforcement community.
The deadly crash near the border of Orange and Osceola county attracted deputies and officers from multiple agencies to demand change.
[RELATED: ‘No remorse:’ Street racers only cared about their cars after crash that killed child, sheriff says]
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez joined dozens of people who placed stuffed animals and mementos at the spot where the senseless crash happened.
“This is not “The Fast and The Furious” this is the real world,” Lopez said.
Sheriff Lopez said during the pandemic he has seen an increase in street racing collisions and said Osceola County will not tolerate it.
[RELATED: Second person dies from injuries in Orange County street race crash, FHP says]
“If you want to race, join NASCAR. Go to the Daytona 500, pick up that sport, but here on the street, we’re not going to put up with that no more,” Sheriff Lopez said.
County Commissioner Peggy Choudhry addressed the crowd to express support to the families.
“We’re not going to tolerate this behavior period. It’s going to stop, it has to stop,” Choudhry said.
Sheriff Lopez said parents must stress the dangers of racing to their children upon buying them a car.
“This is a race where there are no winners, there is no prize there is nothing,” he said.