Woman killed, teen granddaughter injured in three-vehicle crash on Ocala's 'Easy Street'

Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner
·2 min read

A three-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon in southwest Ocala killed a 57-year-old woman and injured her teenage granddaughter, who was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Motorists traveling southbound on Southwest 19th Avenue Road were detoured by officers at 21st Avenue – near the Ocala Star-Banner building – so their colleagues could take measurements, interview witnesses and piece together the events that led up to the crash.

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Here's what happened Tuesday afternoon

An Ocala Police Department evidence technician takes picture of an overturned SUV involved in a three-vehicle wreck on Tuesday
An Ocala Police Department evidence technician takes picture of an overturned SUV involved in a three-vehicle wreck on Tuesday

Police officials on scene said a Dodge Caliber car with four people inside – a father and his three children – was in the inside southbound lane of Southwest 19th Avenue Road, also known as Easy Street.

For an unknown reason, a Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle in the outside lane crossed in front of the Dodge, officers said.

The SUV crossed the median and rolled over into the northbound lanes. The SUV and an oncoming Toyota Camry collided.

Officers said the woman driving the SUV was ejected onto the grassy shoulder. She was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center in critical condition and later died. Police identified her as Auilda Rios.

The girl who was in the SUV was taken to Shands. Police said she is a teenager and Rios' granddaughter, but did not provide other details.

A dog was inside that vehicle and ran away after the crash, police said. As of 8 p.m. the dog had not been recovered.

The dog has a medical cone around its head and is described as multi-colored and short-haired. The Ocala Police Department posted a photo and other information on Facebook, prompting dozens of people to comment and provide advice on how to find the dog and bring it to safety.

Lucky to be alive

"I feel very lucky and blessed to be alive," Valecia Walker, the driver of the Camry, told a Star-Banner reporter.

Walker said she was on her way home from work when the crash occurred.

"It happened so quickly. I saw my life flash in front of my eyes," Walker said.

An Ocala Police Department officer inspects an overturned SUV that was involved in a three-vehicle crash on Tuesday.
An Ocala Police Department officer inspects an overturned SUV that was involved in a three-vehicle crash on Tuesday.

Walker said she saw the SUV spinning, rotating and in the air as it barreled in front of her.

"I thought it would land on top of me," Walker said.

Walker said when she saw the SUV coming at her, she braked. She said the SUV struck the front end of her car.

An overturned SUV on the sidewalk on Tuesday.
An overturned SUV on the sidewalk on Tuesday.

Several people surrounded the woman and covered her with blankets because of the cold temperature.

Officers said the father and his three children in the Dodge were not injured.

Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: 'Easy Street' in SW Ocala is site of fatal crash where grandmother died