SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol are trying to track down the driver and vehicle that left the scene of a deadly crash.
News 6 has learned a father was driving his daughter home after celebrating her 16th birthday together when the troopers says he was killed in the hit-and-run.
It happened on Friday, near County Road 475 and State Road 44 in Sumter County.
Troopers say a vehicle traveling southbound on County Road 475 failed to yield and pulled out into the intersection. A car headed westbound on State Road 44 swerved to avoid a wreck and crashed into Joel Law’s truck, according to FHP.
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Both the car and Law’s truck caught fire after the crash, troopers said. Law died in the crash, and his 16-year-old daughter, Bryleigh, was who riding in the truck’s passenger seat was flown to UF Health Shand’s Hospital with serious injuries.
Her mother, Whitney Law, tells News 6 it’s been an extremely difficult time.
“The first few days it was a rollercoaster of emotions for me,” said Law. “She would go to sleep and wake up and ask, ‘Why is she here? Where is she at? And where is her dad?’ So, I had to relive that moment with her each time, telling her what happened.
Bryleigh’s mother says she has burns on her body, multiple fractures to her pelvis, spine, and sacrum, and a concussion. She was just moved from the ICU this week and hopes to be discharged from the hospital soon.
“[Monday] Yesterday was the first day they got her up and out of bed,” said Law. “The girl is resilient. She has made such big strides.”
Bryleigh’s injuries are so severe it’s challenging for her to sit up or walk, and she is an avid horseback rider and member of the Lake Saddle Club.
“She is definitely very worried about when she is going to get back on her horse,” said her mother.
Law said that Bryleigh and her father spent the day together Friday to celebrate her recent birthday. The pair bonded over Joel Law’s love of airboats and his daughter’s love for rodeo.
Her mother shared that they had visited a western store where he bought Bryleigh some birthday gifts. He was taking her home when the crash happened.
“She has just been so upset about the things her dad had just purchased for her,” said Law. “Her dad bought a hat that day, so they’re going to replace his hat and give it to her because that was the last thing her dad had purchased, as well as some jeans and a knife sheath that she got for her belt.”
Bryleigh’s mom says she also lost her purse with all of her Christmas money, her cell phone, and Apple watch.
“All items that are easily replaceable, but to a teenager these items are life,” said Law.
Law says she has been leaning on the community during such a difficult time.
“She’s going to miss him dearly, as will her brothers,” said Law. “He was an amazing person. He never met a stranger, and he has so many friends who have reached out and will always be there for the kids.”
A GoFundMe that was originally created to support Law during her battle with breast cancer is now also providing for her family as she continues her cancer treatment, takes care of her daughter during her recovery, and her other children.
Law was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer last March. She hopes to be in remission this spring.
“I just started working back full time in January,” said Law. “I was hoping to get back to our normal and be able to provide for myself again. Joel helped me along the way so much.”
Law says she is now encouraging her daughter as she recovers, just like Bryleigh has done for her.
“It’s been a lot of really leaning on each other these past couple days,” said Law. “Letting her know that all the grief you gave me about needing to do what I was supposed to be doing, you now have to do that too so that you can get out of here and we can get back to our normal.”
When asked how she is coping, Law said her emotions come in waves.
“I don’t think I can cry anymore,” said Law. “I’m getting to the point to determination and anger, because I want this to be in the past, I want to put it behind us, but I need the justice. Bryleigh deserves that. Her dad deserves that.”
Troopers said the first vehicle who failed to yield and caused the crash left the scene. They believe it could be a late model dark colored SUV, possibly dark brown or dark blue in color. Investigators are asking anyone who has any information to call *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS.
“I need somebody to have to answer for what they’ve done, because they have taken this father from his children, and it hurt a whole community,” said Law. “My daughter is fighting to get back to her normal because of this person. I don’t think that they realize everything that they took from her.”
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