Mom Held Her Baby When Car Struck Them, Killing Infant and Toddler Brother While Leaving Mother in Coma
On Monday, Feb. 10, at about 8:30 p.m., Taeler Bennett, 29, was crossing a street in Sarasota with her 5-month-old son, Kiylan, in a baby carrier on her chest and pushing her 2-year-old son, Rio, in a stroller, when they were struck by a Lexus, police said in a statement.
Bennett landed on top of the hood of the white Lexus ES300 and slammed into the windshield, shattering it, Assistant State Attorney Josha Wertheim said, Fox13 News reports.
The driver 'fled the scene, failing to render aid or contact 911,' the Sarasota Police Department alleged in the statement.
Police launched an investigation and on Monday, March 3, arrested June Fenton, of Sarasota.
Fenton was charged with two counts of leaving the scene of a traffic crash resulting in a fatality and leaving the scene of a traffic crash resulting in serious injury.
She was taken into custody and taken to the Sarasota County Jail where she remains held on a $650,000 bond, according to online jail records.
At a hearing in court on Tuesday, March 4, Wertheim said that Fenton, a retired hospice worker, was out that night feeding stray cats when she allegedly struck the family, Fox 13 News reports.
Prosecutors alleged that Bennett and her children had just started crossing the road and were "clearly visible' when they were struck by the car, News Channel 8 reports.
Fenton continued driving southbound on U.S. 301 before circling back to the crash site, prosecutors said, according to News Channel 8.
Bennett and the two children were lying in the middle of the road, surrounded by bystanders who were checking on them, according to prosecutors.
Fenton allegedly drove off again, prosecutors said.
Fenton's attorney, Derek Byrd, said in court that Fenton thought she had hit a dog, according to News Channel 8.
'She loves dogs, and when she circled back around to go see if it was a dog and she saw people standing around a dark place which she thought there may be a dog there,' Byrd said. 'She loves animals, she did not want to see the dog suffering, so she went home.'
In a GoFundMe set up to help defray medical and rehabilitation costs, Hope McIntosh wrote that Bennett, her sister, who has two other children, remains in critical condition 'following a traumatic brain injury and the loss of our two precious boys.''Taeler is not just a mother — she is a sister, a daughter, a partner, and a beam of light,' she wrote. 'She has always put others before herself, and now she needs our help more than ever.'
An obituary for the two boys says Rio, 2, 'loved trucks of every sort and size. He also enjoyed swimming, playing at the beach, digging in the dirt and being with his family.'
Five-month-old Kiylan 'enjoyed rolling over, cuddling with his momma, laughing and interacting with his family,' it says. 'Rio and Kiylan brought so much joy and light to everyone they touched. They are deeply missed.'
Read the original article on People
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
9 hours ago
- CBS News
Sacramento father of 7 dies in Berkeley school construction scaffolding accident
A Sacramento construction subcontractor died of his injuries from a workplace accident at a Berkeley school last week, authorities said. Jonathan Dillard "J.D." Guidi, 41, was involved in a scaffolding accident on July 24 while working at Sylvia Mendez Elementary School, which is undergoing renovation, according to the Berkeley Unified School District. Guidi fell from the scaffolding about 40 feet onto the concrete below and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to Berkeley Fire Department spokesperson Dafina Dailey. School District spokesperson Trish McDermott said that because of the construction, there were no students on campus during the incident. "We value the many contractors and subcontractors who are involved in modernizing our schools," McDermott said. "The family and construction crew remain in our thoughts. We send them strength and comfort at this difficult time." The Berkeley Police Department told The Berkeley Scanner that Guidi was installing the scaffolding when he fell. The department and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health are conducting separate investigations into the incident. The Alameda County Coroner's Bureau said it expects to close the case in the next three to six months, Foscalina said. Guidi's family is attempting to raise $35,000 on GoFundMe to pay for funeral expenses and immediate living costs. The online fundraiser had generated more than $28,000 as of Thursday afternoon. "JD was the heart of every room he entered -- the kind of person who lit up a space with his laugh, his goofy jokes, and his even goofier dance moves," the GoFundMe reads. "He made everyone feel welcome, often opening his home to friends and family in need. He had the biggest heart and always put others first. "There are simply no words to describe the hole his absence leaves behind."
Eater
11 hours ago
- Eater
A Fire Set by an Alleged Serial Arsonist Burned Cafe Olli's Firewood
It's been a tough stretch for Cafe Olli, the celebrated cafe and restaurant. The staff was already dealing with the stress and financial strain of having to repair equipment along with a general slowdown in business (something many Portland restaurants are struggling with). Then, earlier this week, someone set Olli's woodshed on fire right after a load of new firewood was delivered, resulting in a loss of $2,000, according to the business. 'Financial impact aside this has been a real blow to us, it's one more instance in a long line of tough circumstances we've been dealing with here,' wrote Olli's owners on Instagram. 'We do want to recognize that there are a lot of horrible things happening in the world and we are very fortunate that this wasn't worse but it has been really hard over here and this one feels different, it feels personal and has left us feeling totally defeated.' On Wednesday, July 30, police arrested a suspect in connection with the fire, a man who is accused of starting a string of fires in Northeast Portland, including a half-dozen fires set after he was initially arrested, then released. The fire at Olli was put out quickly, says general manager Cassandra Petersen, but the chemicals used by firefighters to extinguish it made all the wood unusable. Olli has bounced back, however. The cafe had enough wood in reserve to open for lunch and dinner following the fire, and diners showed up to support the business. Co-owner Siobhan Speirits started a GoFundMe campaign to help offset the cost of the fire and other difficulties Olli has had, and in just three days has raised nearly all of its $7,000 goal. 'We're just grateful that we had a bunch of friends and the community come together and donate and show up for service,' says Petersen. RingSide reopens next week In happier fire-related news, nearly four months after being forced to close due to a kitchen fire, storied steakhouse RingSide will officially reopen on Monday, August 4. It shouldn't be any worse for wear. 'The team has worked carefully and intentionally to preserve everything guests know and love about the RingSide. Guests will find the experience largely unchanged, just as warm, familiar, and timeless as ever,' a RingSide spokesperson said in an email. '[The owners] made it a priority to maintain the spirit, look, and experience that generations of Portlanders have come to treasure.' Rage room opens inside brewery You ever get so angry you want to break something? Either work it out with your therapist or else actually break something at Portland's newest 'rage room' inside StormBreaker Brewing in St. Johns. This is a place where guests can break glass, ceramics, electronics (a la Office Space), or stuff they bring themselves. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased here; the brewpub also offers axe throwing. Vancouver's Elbow Room has relaunched Big news for Vancouver's bar scene: Veteran bartender Toby Maloney — the guy behind famed, now-closed Chicago bar Violet Hour — has taken over the Elbow Room, the bar connected to long-running restaurant Paul's. As the Portland Monthly reports, the businesses opened in 1970, and over the years the Elbow Room acquired an unenviable reputation. 'Its main draws were its early hours and cheap booze,' the Monthly writes. But after the old owners sold both bar and restaurant to married couple Paul Rosenbluh and Monique King last year, the new owners brought aboard Maloney to spruce the bar up while retaining its unpretentious character. 'Maloney will stick around for a bit before jetting off to his next bar project,' the Monthly reports, 'but don't worry if you miss him this go-around — he'll be here regularly to check in and change up recipes.' Eater Portland All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Hamilton Spectator
11 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Dundas homicide victim was a single dad
Zachary Shuman was a single dad raising his three-year-old daughter, before he was killed in a shooting in a Dundas parking lot Sunday. In the aftermath of the July 27 shooting, the 25-year-old's parents are now faced with 'the unimaginable loss of their son while stepping in to raise their granddaughter,' says a GoFundMe organized by the family of Shuman's brother-in-law, who are in New York. 'Zachary's sudden death has deeply shaken his family,' the online fundraiser says. This includes his sister, whose infant son was born just six days before the homicide and who will never be able to meet his 'uncle Zack.' 'This tragedy has left a hole that cannot be filled,' the family says, adding any donations will help with the costs of raising Shuman's daughter and supporting the family as they heal. As of Thursday afternoon, the GoFundMe had raised just under US$27,000, nearly reaching its $28,000 goal. Friends sharing the online fundraiser describe Shuman as having 'the biggest heart' and being 'the most caring friend.' Hamilton police homicide detectives continue to investigate the shooting, which happened around 5 p.m. in a parking lot on Governors Road, near Ogilvie Street. Police believe Shuman, who was driving a grey Dodge Ram pickup truck, had a brief interaction with the driver of a blue Ford Edge in the nearby Metro parking lot shortly before the shooting. Both vehicles then travelled to the parking lot where the shooting occurred and witnesses saw the Ford leaving. It remains unclear what the interaction was about, why they went to that parking lot and what led to the shooting. Nicole O'Reilly is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. noreilly@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
