Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: Avery Lynn Sexton, 22 months old, was killed in a tragic accident on the beach in New Smyrna on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend when she was struck by a motorist after wandering into the driving lanes, according to authorities. LEFT: Makeshift memorial for the toddler killed on the beach and shown with her mom in an undated pic.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to support the family of a 2-year-old struck and killed on the beach to help defray the cost of funeral and memorial fees.
On May 23, 2026, 22-month-old Avery Lynn Sexton was killed in a tragic accident on the beach in New Smyrna when she was struck by a motorist.
The preliminary investigation by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office reveals the child ran into a traffic lane and was struck by a vehicle around 4:30 p.m. Saturday on the beach near E. Seventh Avenue.
The child, later identified as Avery Lynn was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene, and at this time, it does not appear speed or impairment are a factor.
The driver, whose identity has not been released, has not been charged in the fatal acccident.
As reported in People magazine, Avery Lynn ran into a traffic lane on New Smyrna Beach — where driving on the beach is legal — and fatally struck by a motorist.
Jade Lindlau, a cousin of Avery Lynn's mom, Felicity Dionisi, wrote on a GoFundMe set up for the child's memorial expenses that the family was "heartbroken" and "struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable tragedy."
She wrote, "Avery had so much spirit — she could light up a room just by being herself. Her loving nature touched everyone she met, and her sweetness made her truly unforgettable. Avery's memory will always be cherished, and we want to honor her in the most loving way possible."
As of Wednesday, May 27, the GoFundMe has raised over $15,000 of the $18,000 target.
Avery Lynn's father, Dante Sexton, told Fox 35 Orlando that his daughter was the "happiest little girl you could ever meet" and "a light of anybody's day."
Her aunt, Alyssa Jasmine, told WESH 2 News that she was a happy child whose "laugh was contagious," and called for changes to beach driving regulations to avoid future accidents.
Per WKMG-TV, a memorial lies in the area of the beach where Avery Lynn was hit by the vehicle, with local residents and people who knew the toddler leaving photos, flowers and handwritten notes.
One note, describing Avery Lynn as "her mother's princess," asked people to leave seashells in her honor.
People magazine reported it reached out the the office of Volusia Conty Sheriff Mike Chitwood, but calls were not returned.
About the Byline Writer: