Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1, before switching to the Top 5 storylines -- the good, the bad & the ugly on the horizon in "2022: The Year That Lies Ahead."
Photos for Headline Surfer / ABOVE: Ana Rosa Fajardo Espinoza, 27, of Deltona, is shown at her first appearance on DUI and other charges on April 12, 2021, for the head-on collision at Courtland Boulevard and Macon Street in Deltona, Florida, while allegedly speeding that left her 4-year-old son paralyzed. LEFT: Espinoza is shown in her jail mug from the Volusia County Jail following her DUI arrest and other crash-related charges. BELOW: Espinoza wipes away tears at her first appearance before a judge.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DELTONA, Fla. -- The driver in an April crash that resulted in catastrophic injuries that left her 4-year-old son paralyzed back in April was arrested on charges of DUI with serious bodily injury, child neglect, and culpable negligence, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Ana Rosa Fajardo Espinoza, 27 (DOB 1/22/1994), of Deltona, was taken into custody Tuesday night, a few hours after a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Here is a synopsis of what occurred, according to the arrest affidavit:
The crash occurred the afternoon of April 12 at Courtland Boulevard and Macon Street in Deltona. Responding deputies found Fajardo and her two boys, ages 3 and 4, with serious injuries.
The crash investigation revealed that Fajardo was traveling south on Courtland when she veered into the northbound lane and struck an oncoming SUV head-on.
Both children were airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, and the driver of the other vehicle was transported to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford with several injuries.
Fajardo was also transported to the Sanford hospital in serious condition. The 3-year-old child was later released from the hospital to the care of a family member while the 4-year-old remained hospitalized with paralyzing injuries.
A deputy conducting the crash investigation determined Fajardo was traveling 49 mph in a 35 mph zone and swerving just before the crash.
An analysis of the seat belts in Farjado's vehicle suggested hers was locked in the full unused position, indicating she wasn’t wearing it. The 3-year-old’s seat belt had marks consistent with being fastened to a booster seat at the time of the crash, but the 4-year-old’s seat belt did not have the same marks. The child restraint systems and seatbelts were removed from the vehicle to serve as evidence in the case.
An analysis of the seat belts in Farjado's vehicle suggested hers was locked in the full unused position, indicating she wasn’t wearing it. The 3-year-old’s seat belt had marks consistent with being fastened to a booster seat at the time of the crash, but the 4-year-old’s seat belt did not have the same marks. The child restraint systems and seatbelts were removed from the vehicle to serve as evidence in the case.
Deputies and paramedics responded to the horrific crash after several residents who witnessed the carnage called 9-1-1.
"There’s babies in the car. Oh my God, there’s babies in the car," one caller said, on a 9-1-1 recording released by the VCSO.
"We heard it from inside our house - we heard it," another caller stated. "People are running with hoses and everything because that car is flipped."
The crash investigation revealed that Fajardo was traveling south on Courtland when she veered into the northbound lane and struck an oncoming SUV head-on, deputies said, adding Espinoza was speeding and had several drugs in her system, a blood test revealed.
During her first appearance Wednesday, Espinoza’s fiance spoke to the judge virtually and pleaded for a bond reduction so she could care for her sons.
"I would just like the court to give her the chance to fight these accusations on the outside with the support of her family," he said.
The judge left her bond at $130,000.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.