Parents killed by car in front of 7-year-old on family vacation, Florida police say

A couple taking a family vacation was hit and killed by a car only a few feet away from their 7-year-old daughter, Florida authorities said.

Lakeland police identified them as 54-year-old Ronald Jeanbaptiste and 46-year-old Yanique Pierre of Everett, Massachusetts.

The Boston-area family was staying at a hotel in central Florida with their daughter, the Lakeland Police Department said in an Aug. 8 news release.

Shortly before 11 p.m. Aug. 7, the parents were heading eastbound in the crosswalk of an intersection where oncoming traffic had a green light, police said.

Then, a 22-year-old driving southbound in a Toyota Yaris sedan struck the parents in front of their daughter, who was uninjured, according to investigators. The driver was also uninjured and didn’t seem to be impaired, police said.

The parents died at the scene, and the child was placed in the care of other family members, police said.

Law enforcement hasn’t filed any charges as of Aug. 8. The investigation is ongoing.

Lakeland is about a 35-mile drive east from Tampa.

What to do if you’re in a car crash

More than 5 million traffic accidents were reported by police in 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“No one wants to get into a car crash. But being prepared and knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives, reduce injuries and make the claims process simpler and easier,” the Insurance Information Institute said on its website.

Here are 10 things you should do if you’re in a car crash:

• Pull the vehicle over to a safe place on the side of the road if possible.

• Assess any possible injuries and make sure everyone is OK.

• Call 911 if anyone is injured.

• Assess the car damage and take photos if possible.

• Don’t leave the scene.

• If the vehicle involved was unattended, leave a note with your name and phone number.

• Note the names and contact information of everyone in the crash, the makes and models of the cars, and the location of the crash.

• Ask other drivers for a license, car registration and insurance ID.

• Report the crash to police or highway patrol.

• File an accident report even if police can’t come to the scene, and notify your insurance shortly after.