Infant Daughter Of Firefighter Dies Following Crash

LUTZ, FL — Pasco County firefighters continue to hold vigil at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa following a deadly crash that claimed the life of the infant daughter of one of their fellow firefighters.

On Friday afternoon, Pasco County Fire Rescue firefighter Hunter Garcia, his wife, Kayla and their baby daughter were traveling on Van Dyke Road when their SUV was involved in a multi-vehicle crash.

Both Garcia and his wife sustained severe injuries. Their baby daughter was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries where she died Sunday. In a press release, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said the baby was 7 months old, but a family friend said the infant was actually 4 months old.

Garcia, 23, has been a Pasco County firefighter for just under two years. A graduate of Steinbrenner High School, he worked at Winn Dixie in Lutz for five years while pursuing his dream of becoming a firefighter. He and Kayla Corbin Garcia married in January 2016.

"I was blessed to have Hunter Garcia work for me while I was a manager at the Winn Dixie in Lutz," said Jessica Wrage. "That was about five years ago. Even then, we would talk about his future."

She said Garcia always said he wanted to work in a field in which he could help people.

Fellow firefighter Mike Morgan made the announcement about the baby's death on Facebook and asked the community for prayers.

The Pasco County Fire Rescue will release more details concerning ways the community can support the couple during a press conference Tuesday.

"Just pray that this young couple can recover and knows that God will be with them through this," said Morgan.

Garcia sustained serious injuries to his face including an orbital socket fracture. Kayla Garcia's back and pelvis were fractured in the accident.

Pasco Fire Rescue Corey Dierdorff said Garcia's fellow firefighters have stepped up to do whatever they can to support the family.

"We had 35 guys waiting in the hallway (at the hospital)," he said. "We’re going to be there for our family. I just want him to know that we have his back."

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash. According to the sheriff's office, a vehicle traveling on Brown Street ran a stop sign and T-boned a car traveling west on Van Dyke. The crash caused a chain reaction that ultimately involved four vehicles and resulted in injuries to four people and the baby.

See related story: Infant In Critical Condition Following 4-Car Pileup In Northdale