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Memorial set for Plant City mom killed in I-75 crash

Hopewell Funeral Home

Rachel Danielle Edwards was killed Saturday in a crash on Interstate 75.

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By DAVE NICHOLSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2009

PLANT CITY - A memorial service is Friday for the mother of two young boys who was killed when the sports utility vehicle driven by her husband was rear-ended on Interstate 75 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The service for 34-year-old Rachel Danielle Edwards is set for 7 p.m. at Hopewell Funeral Home Chapel, 6005 S. State Road 39, Plant City. Visitation is at 6 p.m. Edwards worked for Syniverse Technologies, a Tampa communications firm, where she was president of the employee association.

The Plant City resident was described as a kind and compassionate woman who had been raising money for a breast cancer fundraiser. Her family asked that donations go to that cause in lieu of flowers.

Edwards died Saturday at Tampa General Hospital, where she was flown after the accident. Her 40-year-old husband, Jason, and their sons, Harry, 6, and Jake, 3, also suffered injuries in the five-vehicle collision, which left the family 2001 Toyota RAV4 on its roof, Florida Highway Patrol troopers said.

Jeffrey C. Nicoll Jr., 21, of Hudson was northbound shortly before 2 p.m. when he failed to observe that traffic was slowing in front of him, troopers said. He struck the rear of the Edwards' slowing SUV, which hit another vehicle and overturned, troopers said.

Nicoll and a passenger in his car, Kevin Land, 18, were injured, troopers said. Two other passengers in the 1993 Oldsmobile he was driving, Sara Sims, 19, and Jessica Phelps, 20, also were seriously injured.

Most of the injured were taken to University Community Hospital, were a spokesman said that they were no longer patients.

The collision involved three other vehicles, a pickup truck, a sport-utility vehicle and a van. Drivers and passengers in those vehicles were uninjured or only suffered minor injuries, troopers said.

No charges were immediately filed.

At the time of her death, Edwards was raising money to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and National Philanthropic Trust breast cancer fund. To reach her Web page, go to www.hopewellfuneral.com and go to links, to make a memorial donation.

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 627-4727.

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