Actions

Suspected drunk driver kills mom, injures children in Spring Hill

Posted at 4:47 PM, Jun 04, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-04 17:27:51-04

A Citrus County mother is dead and her two children are recovering from a deadly crash.

Florida Highway Patrol says a suspected drunk driver caused the head on collision Sunday morning in Spring Hill.

Pictures, taken by a couple who lives just steps away, show just how devastating the impact was.

Candeda Sasser told us her husband, Mark, was the first to the crash and heard the dying mother say "my kids, my kids."

He told her, "I got them."

Suzie Miller was getting ready for church Sunday morning where she heard a loud boom.

“I was totally shocked with how bad the cars were mangled that anybody at all lived through it,” she said.

FHP says a blue Hyundai driven by Ryan Manley crossed into the southbound lane of US-41 and hit a white Saturn head on.

Inside the Saturn, 30-year-old Shaita Guillory from Citrus Springs and her children, a 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.

 “I didn’t hear any noises from the people in the car. My understanding was that there was a lot of crying from the kids in the backseat, but there were witnesses that were there to hold their hands and try and keep them calm, said Mollie Bowman.

The kids were airlifted to a hospital in serious condition.

As for Manley, troopers say they suspect he was drinking.

Records show Manley has two previous arrests in Pinellas County, for drugs and domestic battery.

He and another man who was in the car were both also hospitalized in serious condition.

“If alcohol or drugs are involved. I hope they nail him to the wall,” said Miller

“It was on my mind a lot. I hugged my kids a lot yesterday. There are two kids that don’t have a mom anymore. It’s heartbreaking,” said Bowman.

FHP hasn’t charged Manley yet, but that could come soon.