A crash on Interstate 75 in Broward County, Florida, on Mother’s Day left two visiting relatives dead and a 9-month-old critically injured, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol; Felipe Guzman and his wife, Mónica Villarreal, are grieving after what began as a celebration turned into a nightmare, and authorities have arrested a driver identified as Cira Wuinones Lewis.
The family says the morning started bright and full of hope. “We started the day beautiful, man,” Guzman said. “The girls got all dressed in yellow. You know, my wife’s first Mother’s Day.” Those words now sit against the terrible images of the crash scene and the frantic calls that followed.
Mónica Villarreal had her mother and aunt with her that day, family members say. They had flown in from Ecuador to help with the baby after Villarreal underwent surgery for thyroid cancer, a trip meant to support recovery and celebrate a new milestone. Instead, it became a tragedy that ripped through the family in minutes.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office says the multi-vehicle collision happened around 10:45 a.m. on I-75 northbound near Mile Marker 20. Florida Highway Patrol investigators report a driver had stopped to help a disabled vehicle and was on the wrong side of the roadway when vehicles collided, triggering a five-car crash that shut lanes and sent people to area hospitals.
The scene was chaotic and heartbreaking, according to Guzman. “I remember my wife screaming,” Guzman said. He later described the worst moment: “I keep hearing my wife screaming, ‘Where’s my mother?’ because she was ejected out of the car,” he said. Those frantic calls underlined how quickly the day shifted from celebration to crisis.
Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol and local deputies confirmed two women, ages 58 and 60, who were occupants of a Honda Pilot, were killed in the crash. Deputies said four people were taken to hospitals by ground, while the infant, less than a year old, was airlifted after suffering cardiac arrest and is in critical condition at a trauma center.
Authorities arrested one driver involved in the collision, identified as Cira Wuinones Lewis. Investigators reported that Lewis was driving with a suspended license and that she was in the country illegally, details that have intensified the family’s anger and grief. “I think it should be more than a suspended license,” Guzman said.
The family is asking for prayers and community support as they juggle shock, medical updates and funeral arrangements. “Were praying for a miracle, Guzman said. A live prayer service is planned on TikTok at 8 p.m., and relatives are coordinating with friends in South Florida and abroad to manage logistics and medical needs for the infant.
Neighbors, church members and people who saw the crash have been offering condolences, and the family has launched a fundraising effort to cover medical bills and end-of-life costs. The group organizing support says donations will go to immediate expenses and to help Villarreal as she recovers from surgery while caring for her injured child.
Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol and Broward County deputies continue to piece together the exact sequence of events, interviewing witnesses and reviewing collision reconstruction data. Traffic on I-75 was affected for hours, and authorities urged drivers to avoid the area while first responders and investigators worked the scene.
Guzman and Villarreal’s story is now a community focus as loved ones in Broward County and beyond try to rally around them. Medical teams are treating the injured, law enforcement is pursuing the case, and relatives are preparing for a long recovery process that involves medical, legal and emotional hurdles in the weeks ahead.
