Joel Law Obituary, Death; – A teenager from Florida is in recovery following a car accident that resulted in the death of her father while they were returning from her birthday celebration.
The incident took place at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time on Friday, January 17, at the intersection of County Road 475 and State Road 44 in Sumter County, as reported by a news release from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), which was obtained by PEOPLE.
According to authorities, an SUV failed to stop at a stop sign, leading a Nissan Altima to swerve left into the eastbound lanes and collide with a Chevrolet pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction. Both vehicles ignited following the impact.
The 39-year-old driver of the Chevrolet, identified as Joel Law from Oxford, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. A 16-year-old girl, also in the Chevrolet, sustained serious injuries, as did the driver of the Nissan.
The teenager has been named Bryleigh Law, who was with her father after they celebrated her 16th birthday, as reported by WESH.
“It was unimaginable,” stated Bryleigh’s mother, Whitney Law. Bryleigh is currently receiving treatment at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where she is recovering from second-degree burns and multiple fractures, as indicated by a GoFundMe campaign established to assist the Law family.
This online fundraiser was initially launched in April 2024 to support her mother, Whitney, who is battling stage 3 breast cancer. Whitney informed WESH that her daughter suffered a “head wound” in the accident and “doesn’t recall the incident at all.”
“She inquires about her father, and I have to repeatedly explain everything,” the mother shared. “I have not fully processed everything yet.”
The Lake Saddle Club, where Bryleigh has been involved in riding, is rallying support following the accident. The club plans to organize fundraisers and dedicate events to Bryleigh on February 1, as noted in their Facebook group.
