A trio of Florida motorists are facing criminal charges after police say their illegal street race resulted in the death of a woman and critical injuries to her 21-month-old daughter.
According to the New York Post, Ohio native Jessica Reisinger was in Tampa on Friday when she was pushing her daughter across Bayshore Boulevard shortly before noon.
The woman and her daughter, Lillia Raubenolt, were both struck by a black Ford Mustang, according to police reports. That vehicle was allegedly racing at a high rate of speed alongside a gold Nissan.
Authorities determined 18-year-old Cameron Coyle Herrin was driving the vehicle that struck the mother and child. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, street racing and reckless driving resulting in serious bodily injury.
The driver of the other vehicle, identified by police as 17-year-old John Alexander Barrineau, was also arrested and is expected to face similar charges.
Tristan Christopher Herrin, the first suspect’s 20-year-old brother, was arrested on suspicion of a misdemeanor charge related to his inaction to stop the illegal race.
Police say this was hardly the first incident of dangerous speeding along that particular stretch of road.
“That is an issue on Bayshore,” said Tampa police spokesman Steve Hegarty, who noted an uptick in speeding tickets recently.
“People aren’t happy about it, but that’s what we do to remind people you’re not supposed to drive fast out there,” he added. “We make an effort to slow things down but we’re not out there 24/7. We can’t be out there 24/7.”
An online fundraiser established to assist the victim’s family included a plea for community assistance.
“We know our Tampa community is a strong and loving one,” an organizer wrote on GoFundMe. “Let’s rally around this family and lift them up in their time of need.
[Jessica Reisinger, Cameron Coyle Herrin, John Alexander Barrineau and Tristan Christopher Herrin/Facebook and Tampa Police Department]