Woman, unborn child die in crash

Amy Castillo's family and friends were preparing for a baby shower later this month, but following a late-night car accident, they will have to plan for a funeral.

The 20-year-old woman, who was eight months pregnant, died following a single-car accident on State Road 436 in Seminole County. Florida Highway Patrol officials say Castillo, a graduate of Apopka High School, lost control of her 1995 Acura after trying to change lanes about 11:40 p.m. Saturday.

The vehicle veered off the right side of the road and struck the base of a business sign near the corner of 436 and West Lake Brantley Road.

Castillo died early Sunday after being flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center, said FHP spokeswoman Kim Miller.

The unborn child did not survive, she said.

"This is sad," Miller said Sunday. "A young mother who is eight months pregnant. That's about the most tragic thing anybody can think of."

Castillo's younger brother and sister also were in the car. They survived the crash. The three were returning from the movies, according to Miller and Castillo's cousin Harol Perez.

"That was the only reason she went out last night," Perez said.

"What can I say: She was the bomb. She was like a sister to me. She was a nice girl. She never gave trouble to nobody."

Castillo's sister Roselyn Castillo, 15, was at Orlando Regional Medical Center in stable condition Sunday. Her brother Bernie Castillo, 11, was in stable condition at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Perez said another cousin had been following Castillo before the accident Saturday night.

Initially, the cousin thought Castillo's car hadn't struck the sign, but then he realized the severity of the accident, Perez said.

"When they opened the door, she was mumbling," said Perez, but he added that Castillo was pinned against the steering wheel and couldn't be moved out of the car until emergency officials arrived.

"He said she didn't die right there," Perez said.

"She lost the baby, I guess, when it happened."

Castillo had worked as a manager at a McDonald's in Apopka and graduated from Apopka High two years ago, Perez said.

Her baby shower was scheduled for Nov. 20, he said.

The accident occurred less than half a mile from the front gate of Castillo's apartment complex.

Investigators were checking whether alcohol was involved, but Miller said she doubts the woman was drinking or speeding.

"We don't think alcohol is a factor. We don't think speed is a factor," Miller said.

"We think she just lost control when she tried to switch lanes."

The FHP report said that Amy Castillo was not wearing a seat belt. The car's airbag deployed. Both passengers were wearing seat belts, according to FHP.

Castillo's death was the 53rd traffic fatality in Seminole County this year.

There were 24 traffic fatalities in the county all of last year.

FHP will try to determine why the number has more than doubled, Miller said. The worst time for traffic fatalities is usually at the end of the year with the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's holidays.

"Nobody has doubled like Seminole County, and I don't know why," Miller said.

"We are in the busiest time. That's what's scary. What's going to happen the rest of the year?"

Anthony Colarossi of the Orlando Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
 

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