A devastated mother is mourning her youngest daughter who was killed when the car she was driving crashed into a canal in Cooper City on Wednesday morning.
“That was my baby girl, that was my youngest daughter, and she had so many plans for the future,” mother Blanche Pastore said while fighting back tears. “I just pray to God, he’s got his arms around her right now.”
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Pastore's daughter, 23-year-old Caitlynn Heron, was driving the car when she crashed into the canal at Griffin Road and Southwest 90th Avenue around 6 a.m.
“We got a phone call because her boyfriend was in the car and his mom called my other daughter, and my daughter called me, and they identified her by our matching tattoos,” Pastore said.
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Those matching tattoos are angel numbers, "222," to signify prosperity and guardians.
Heron's boyfriend was able to get out of the car, but Heron did not. She was found dead inside the vehicle after a dive team responded to the scene, the sheriff's office said.
"My life is definitely gonna be upside down. I can’t imagine life without her in it," said sister Brianna Heron.
Her boyfriend was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. He was later identified by the Broward Sheriff's Office as 24-year-old Joseph Foster, of Davie. His father said he has broken bones in his leg, hand, a broken ankle and other injuries.
Aerial footage captured more than a dozen emergency vehicles parked near the canal as divers searched the waters. Emotional people could also be seen approaching the scene. One woman collapsed to the ground with her head in her hands.
The footage later showed the damaged white vehicle being pulled from the canal.
BSO spokesman Carey Codd said investigators believe it was a single-car crash involving an Infiniti G37XS.
For unknown reasons, the car veered and struck a raised concrete sidewalk, crashed into the wall of a small bridge and went airborne before it landed in the water, Codd said
"This is a very tragic and heartbreaking situation and our hearts go out to the family of the young woman who died here today and all those who know and care about her," Codd told reporters.
Authorities said they are also investigating how the crash happened.
Heron loved gaming and wanted to be a graphic designer. Her family now hopes she’s remembered for her beautiful life, and not the tragic way she died.
“She was just a beautiful person,” her mother said.
