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I-75 crash claims life of Plant City mother

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By DAVE NICHOLSON

dnicholson@tampatrib.com

Published: July 8, 2009

PLANT CITY - The mother of two young boys was killed when the sport utility vehicle being driven by her husband was rear-ended on Interstate 75 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

A memorial service was Friday for 34-year-old Rachel Danielle Edwards, who worked for Syniverse Technologies, a Tampa communications firm, where she was president of the employee association.

The Plant City resident was described as a kind and compassionate woman who had been raising money for a breast cancer event. Her family asked that donations go to that cause in lieu of flowers.

Edwards, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, died June 27 at Tampa General Hospital, where she was flown after the accident, authorities said. Her 40-year-old husband, Jason, and their sons, Harry, 6, and Jake, 3, also suffered injuries in the five-vehicle collision, which left the family's 2001 Toyota RAV4 on its roof, Florida Highway Patrol troopers said.

Their SUV was hit by Jeffrey C. Nicoll Jr., 21, of Hudson, who was northbound shortly before 2 p.m. when he failed to observe that traffic was slowing in front of him, troopers said. He struck the rear of the Edwards' slowing SUV, which hit another vehicle and overturned, troopers said.

Nicoll and a passenger in his car, Kevin Land, 18, were injured, troopers said. Two other passengers in the 1993 Oldsmobile he was driving, Sara Sims, 19, and Jessica Phelps, 20, also were seriously injured.

Most of the injured were taken to University Community Hospital, where a spokesman said last week that they were no longer patients.

The collision involved three other vehicles: a pickup, an SUV and a van. Drivers and passengers in those vehicles were uninjured or suffered only minor injuries, troopers said.

No charges were immediately filed.

At the time of her death, Edwards was raising money to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust breast cancer fund. To reach her Web page, go to www.hopewellfuneral .com and go to links to make a memorial donation.

RACHEL DANIELLE EDWARDS

BORN: April 30, 1975, in Akron, Ohio

DIED: June 27, 2009, in Tampa

SURVIVORS: Husband, Jason; sons, Harry and Jake; parents, Marcia and Jerry Krishart of North Carolina and Ken Smith of Lakeland; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harry and Carole Edwards; sister, Samantha Cordero

SERVICES: Memorial service was Friday at Hopewell Funeral Home

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 627-4727.

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