DAVENPORT, Fla. — Viola Carmona of Orlando said she tries not to cry despite losing her sister Friday night.
She doesn't want her niece and nephew to feel even more grief after losing their mother.
"It's not fair at all," she said.
Her sister, Alicia Carmona, was killed in a crash just before 8 p.m. Friday on North Ridge Trail in Davenport, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Her two kids, a 15-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were also inside the car and sustained injuries.
Viola said her sister and her kids were with a friend, a woman, who was the driver. They were headed to an Airbnb for a trip over the weekend.
However, the children said the friend appeared to be drunk when she picked them all up. They added their mother tried to get her friend to stop the car and turn around, but an argument ensued.
"They saw how scared my sister was. They were scared," Viola said. "She begged her to stop several times, according to my niece and nephew. She asked [her friend], 'Please stop. Turn this car around,' and she wouldn't."
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The car, a 2024 Nissan sedan, left the road at a 90-degree corner while traveling at a high rate of speed, deputies said. It led to the car going over a guardrail, through a fence, and striking a tree.
The impact threw Alicia Carmona out of the car. She died on the scene.
"My niece, she saw her mom, you know, afterwards, and that's something that she's never going to get over," Viola Carmona said.
Viola said the two children spent at least 24 hours in the hospital and both suffered from concussions.
While their physical injuries are recovering, she said the trauma is worse.
Viola said she's now looking after her niece and nephew on top of her four other kids, which is what her sister would have wanted.
A good mother, a hard worker, and empathetic were among the traits Viola Carmona said she admired about her sister. Not to mention, her sense of humor.
She had just moved from Jacksonville. Her sister said she relied on others for transportation because of a developmental disability.
"We did watch out for her a lot," she said.
However, her sister always made it work whether by riding the bus or her bike or walking to work. Working two jobs to provide for herself and her kids, Viola said her sister moved with her to Orlando in hopes of making life easier.
Viola said she's not sure how Alicia and the friend, who drove, met.
Polk County deputies said the driver showed signs of impairment and a sample of her blood was obtained for testing.
At last check, they said while the crash remains under investigation, criminal charges are expected.
Moving forward, Viola said she hopes other drivers don't ever get behind the wheel if they're drunk.
"It has consequences, like really bad consequences," she said through tears.
As she plans her sister's funeral, Viola vows to do her best to take care of her niece and nephew.
"I never thought I'd be at this age with six children, but, you know, God knows what he does, and we're just gonna make it through," she said.
10 Tampa Bay is not naming the driver until charges and an arrest are made.
If you'd like to help donate for the cost of childcare and other expenses for Alicia Carmona's family, visit this link.