Two Gainesville women, who were cousins, were killed in an two-vehicle crash while on vacation in Florida over the weekend.
A report from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) identified the victims as Diana Almazan and Wendy Jaimes. The report indicated the women lived in Sugar Hill, but a spokesman from Memorial Park Funeral Home said they were from Gainesville. Almazan, 20, graduated from Gainesville High School and was a current student at Lanier Technical College, while Jaimes, 27, was a graduate of Johnson High School.
The FHP report said the fatal collision occurred around 5 a.m. on Sunday, March 18 on I-4 near Lake Mary, Fla.
A Toyota Camry, being driven by Estrellita Galarza, 24, of Orlando, Fla., was traveling westbound on I-4 behind a Dodge pickup truck. Galarza's vehicle rear-ended the truck and then overturned. Almazan and Jaimes, both passengers, were ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The report said neither victim was wearing a seat belt.
Galarza and the driver of the truck sustained minor injuries.
Investigators believe Galarza fell asleep at the wheel. They said charges are pending in the incident.
The two victims will be remembered in a joint funeral service on Sunday, March 25 at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home.
