Troopers, family looking for driver who hit and killed young mother on I-95 in Jacksonville

Mercedes Toro said she woke up early Saturday morning to her cellphone ringing.

“My daughter called and said, 'Jazmin passed away,'” Toro said.

Two days later, she still can't believe that her 25-year-old niece, Jazmin Rodriguez, was hit and killed on Interstate 95 while headed to her second job.

“As you can imagine, we are all devastated,” Toro said.

According to Florida Highway Patrol’s report, Rodriguez was pulled over in the emergency lane checking her tire when another car swerved, hit her and then continued driving. The hit launched her underneath her car; Toro said she was on the phone with her fiancé the entire time and was alive when troopers arrived on scene.

Rodriguez was taken to Orange Park Medical Center, where she later died. Her fiancé told their 7-year-old son about the accident.

“His father sat him down and let him know she’s an angel,” said Rodriguez’s cousin, Lissette Toro.

The entire family is rallying around the 7-year-old as he processes the loss.

“He broke down. He’s a little kid, so I don’t know if he understands. I don’t think that it's hit him,” Lissette said.

The family is calling on the community for help bringing the young mother’s killer to justice. Troopers say the driver was in a 2009-2011 silver Honda Pilot. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol at 904-695-4115 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-854-TIPS.

Cox Media Group