A one-year-old girl tragically lost her life after running into traffic on a popular Florida beach. Avery Lynn Sexton, nearly two years old, was enjoying Memorial Day with her family at New Smyrna Beach when she darted into the path of a vehicle, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Vehicles are permitted to drive on certain sections of the beach, and authorities have stated that neither speed nor impairment appear to have contributed to the incident. The driver remained at the scene until law enforcement arrived. Sexton was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead on Saturday.
Witnesses Jacob Myers and Mia Lepore described the chaotic aftermath to WESH 2, recounting how everyone began screaming and rushing toward the child after she was struck. Lepore remarked, 'There was screaming, crying, obviously it was a very traumatic event.'
Family Remembers a Joyful Child
Her father, Dante Sexton, remembered his daughter as a source of happiness. 'She was just a light of anybody's day that met her, really,' he told Fox 35 Orlando. '[She was the] happiest little girl you could ever meet.'
Dante expressed that the family never imagined such a tragedy could happen to them, and they are now advocating for a ban on driving on the beach. 'Because stuff like this happens,' he said. Sexton's aunt, Alyssa Jasmine, also suggested that beaches should implement one-way driving lanes and reduce the speed limit from 10 mph to 5 mph. 'There's not enough room for two cars to be going two ways,' she told WESH 2.
Memorial and Fundraiser
The family fondly recalled the little girl's love for the beach and her favorite color, pink. 'She loved the water. She just laughed all the time. Her laugh was contagious,' Jasmine said. A makeshift memorial now rests on the beach near the crash site, featuring flowers, a pink bow, and a photograph.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $16,000 of its $18,000 goal to cover funeral and memorial expenses. Family friend Jade Lindlau wrote, 'She was a bright light in our lives, and her loss has left the family heartbroken... Avery had so much spirit – she could light up a room just by being herself.'
Sexton will be cremated, according to her mother, Felicity Dionisi, who is separated from the child's father. A private memorial service is scheduled for Sunday. The Daily Mail has reached out to the family for comment.
