Troopers said the child was struck after an SUV moved forward in a private driveway on Robinson Avenue.
APOPKA, Fla. — A 4-year-old girl died after she was struck by an SUV in a private driveway in Apopka on Wednesday evening, and Florida Highway Patrol said the vehicle was being driven by the child’s mother when the crash happened.
The girl, identified as Kamaria Simmons, was hit about 7:14 p.m. April 1 near Robinson Avenue and 13th Street, according to troopers. Authorities said the mother, a 37-year-old Apopka woman, pulled the vehicle forward without realizing her daughter was standing beside the right rear passenger door. The death was ruled an accident, but a traffic homicide investigation remains open as officials continue to review the circumstances.
Troopers said the SUV, a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, had been parked in the driveway before it began moving east. Kamaria was next to the passenger-side rear door when the vehicle rolled forward, investigators said. The movement caused the child to fall and she was then struck by the SUV. Emergency crews took her to Arnold Palmer Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The driver was not hurt and stayed at the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. By Friday, the child’s name had been publicly confirmed by both family members and state authorities as relatives and neighbors gathered near the home where the crash happened.
The medical examiner’s office in Orange County said Kamaria’s death was caused by blunt force injuries to the head and classified the manner of death as an accident. Troopers have not announced any charges, and none had been reported by Friday. Investigators also have not said whether speed, impairment or mechanical problems played any role. Public statements so far describe the crash as a low-speed driveway incident that unfolded in seconds. Florida Highway Patrol has continued to refer to the case as a traffic homicide investigation, a standard review process in fatal crashes, while stressing that the broader inquiry is still underway.
The case drew attention because it happened in a place many families think of as safe: a home driveway. Authorities have released only limited details about what happened in the moments before the SUV moved, and they have not described whether other relatives or children were outside at the time. Family members told local reporters that Kamaria was one of five children. Her father described her as a little girl who loved to play and dreamed of becoming a ballerina, adding a deeply personal note to a case that otherwise has been framed by official reports and brief public statements.
As of Friday, the next formal step remained the completion of the highway patrol investigation. Troopers have not said when that review will be finished or whether its findings will be turned over for any prosecutorial decision. The medical examiner’s ruling narrowed one part of the case by classifying the death as accidental, but investigators still must complete their reconstruction and final report. In the meantime, the family has begun planning public memorial events in Apopka as neighbors, school and sports supporters, and local residents respond to the loss.
That response began to take shape almost immediately. Family members gathered at the house the day after the crash, sharing photos of Kamaria and describing her as loving and playful. Community members also began organizing a candlelight vigil in her memory. In nearby Ocoee, support spread through the local baseball community after reports noted that Kamaria’s older brother, Makah Simmons, plays on Ocoee High’s baseball team. Alumni and supporters said they would help people get to the vigil, turning a private loss into a broader show of grief and solidarity across Central Florida.
Authorities said Friday that the crash remained under investigation. A candlelight vigil for Kamaria was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4, in Apopka, marking the next public moment in a case that has already shaken her family and community.
Author note: Last updated April 4, 2026.