TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — A Holiday family is in mourning, now forced to plan an unexpected funeral after a crash on U.S. Highway 19 took a 21-year-old's life.
Tarpon Springs police say 19-year-old Jaden Jackson and his wife, Alina Fiallios Chavez, were hit by an SUV on Feb. 9. Chavez's family just held services for her on Saturday.
"I'm very lucky to be alive and not be more banged up than I am. We were both wearing helmets. That helmet saved my life I just wish it would've saved hers," Jackson said days after being discharged from the hospital.
He's left with a broken collarbone, road rash and a neck injury. Thankful he's still here, he showed his wounds with his father-in-law by his side. They spoke only to 10 Tampa Bay's Angelina Salcedo with the hope that their story would urge drivers on the road to pay attention.
"He's a great son. He's a fighter. His whole world was changed in an instant. He gives us strength. When this happened, police came to the house to tell us," Raul Fiallios, Chavez's father, said in Spanish.
Tarpon Springs police say the crash happened around 7:50 p.m. in the area of U.S. 19 and Sun Valley Boulevard. When they got there, Chavez had already lost her life. Jackson was flown to Bayonet Point Hospital with serious injuries.
Investigators say a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox driven by a 30-year-old woman hit the young couple. No one in the Chevrolet suffered any injuries, but police say the driver has been charged with an improper lane change so far. Detectives are still investigating the crash to learn more about what happened.
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While police investigate, Fiallios says they're trying to support each other the best they can. His daughter was a bright soul who fought for what she wanted and never gave up. She and Jackson had only been married for four months.
"We still believe in love. We still believe in forgiveness. We just want to move on in peace and hope this legal process goes fast. We aren't searching for anyone to blame, but the authorities will investigate and take the proper action moving forward," Fiallios said.
While mourning, two families have come together in love. Chavez's unexpected loss is a call for everyone to be safer on the roads.
"I've been riding bikes ever since I was a kid. Most of the time it's everybody else on the road driving the thousand-pound cars that are on their phone or have road rage or whatever it is that end up taking innocent, non-deserving lives," Jackson said.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing. The family is fundraising for funeral costs and the transport of Alina's body back to Honduras where her family members are grieving her loss. They plan on holding a proper burial there to honor her life. If you'd like to help support them you can donate to their GoFundMe here.