Fla. Dad Killed in Crash After Celebrating 16-Year-Old Daughter's Birthday; Girl Is Also Injured

Mar. 15, 2025

Joel Law.Photo:Joel Harrison Law Facebook

Joel Harrison Law Facebook

A Florida teen is recovering from a car crash that killed her father as they were returning from celebrating the girl’s birthday.

An SUV blew a stop sign at the intersection, causing a Nissan Altima to veer left into the eastbound lanes of the roadway and collide with a Chevrolet pick-up truck traveling in the opposite direction, police said. Both cars caught fire after the crash.

The 39-year-old male driver of the Chevrolet later died at the hospital “from injuries suffered during the crash.” He has been identified as Joel Law, of Oxford, according toNBC affiliate WESH.

Police said a 16-year-old girl who was also in the Chevrolet was seriously injured, as was the driver of the Nissan.

The teen has been identified as Bryleigh Law, who was riding with her dad after the pair celebrated her 16th birthday, WESH reported.

“It was unfathomable,” said Bryleigh’s mother, Whitney Law.

At 5:30 p.m., the unknown driver in a dark-colored SUV was traveling southbound on CR-475, approaching a stop sign at the intersection of SR-44 in Wildwood.Florida Highway Patrol

Florida Highway Patrol

Bryleigh is currently hospitalized at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where she is recovering from second-degree burns and multiple fractures, according to aGoFundMe campaigncollecting donations for the Law family.

The online fundraiser was originally started in April 2024 to support her now-single mother Whitney, who has stage 3 breast cancer.

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Whitney told WESH her daughter sustained a “head wound” in the crash and “doesn’t remember the accident at all.”

“She asks where her dad is, and so I have to go through and explain everything again,” the mom explained. “I haven’t really processed everything yet.”

TheLake Saddle Club, where Bryleigh grew up riding, is showing its support after the crash. The club will be holding fundraisers and dedicating events to Bryleigh on Feb. 1, according to posts in its Facebook group.

“I would want somebody to help me out as much as they could in a situation like this, and we just know that it takes a village to help a family,” Kristy Lennon, president of the club, told WESH. “We’re here to support them the most we can.”

source: people.com