GILCHRIST COUNTY, Fla. — A woman from Bell, Florida lost her life and a passenger in her vehicle suffered serious injuries after she lost control of her car speeding on U.S. 129 late Saturday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Autumn D. Smith, 24, died and her passenger, Jesse Samaniego, 35, was seriously hurt after Smith drove her car off U.S. 129 and into several oak trees while speeding.
FHP said that their first indications showed that she was speeding around a long, left-curve in the road when the car veered across the travel lanes and left the road.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Samaniego was taken to UF Shands and is in stable condition, according to authorities.
