money Immokalee mother headed to prison for children's death in van driven by 14-year-old
A mother who drunkenly let her 14-year-old drive her van, leading to the deaths of her 3- and 4-year-old children, will spend 18 years in prison.
Joyce Cara Zamago, now 45, of Immokalee, pleaded no contest to two charges of aggravated manslaughter on Monday afternoon before Judge Nicholas R. Thompson. On Aug. 29, 2021, she was in a van she allowed her 14-year-old to drive when it crashed in Lehigh Acres, killing one child immediately and a second a day later.
Drinking binge: FHP: Day-long alcohol binge by Immokalee woman preceded fatal crash in van driven by 14-year-old daughter
Second child dies: Second child dies from crash involving 14-year-old driver on state Road 82; mother in jail
14-year-old driver: Fatal crash on SR 82 in Lehigh Acres involves driver, 14; child killed, mother arrested
She had faced charges of permitting a minor to drive, driving without a license causing death or serious injury and aggravated child abuse, all felonies. She was released on $100,000 bond from Lee County Jail.
She returned to Lee County Jail immediately after her plea Monday, jail records indicate.
A Florida Highway Patrol arrest report said Zamago began consuming alcohol around 9:40 a.m. that day and continued until about 90 minutes before the 6:30 p.m. crash. She told troopers that "I drank a lot," mostly beer or beer mixed with a tomato-based drink.
The report said Zamago told investigators that she was sitting in the front seat of her Dodge Caravan and consumed as much as another 12-pack of beer.
She told troopers that she was drinking while her daughter sat in the driver's seat of the van holding the ignition key and said she wanted to go to a pool at a friend's house.
Zamago said the middle-row left passenger seat and third-row bench seat in the van had been removed days earlier to make room for containers of palmetto berries she gathers.
She told troopers she did not tell her 14-year-old daughter that she could drive but was too intoxicated to stop her.
Zamago's 14-year-old daughter was driving the van east on State Road 82 and made a left turn in front of an SUV near Sunshine Boulevard, troopers said.
None of those in the van had seatbelts or child restraints. Two of Zamago's children died from injuries sustained in the crash, a 4-year-old at the scene and a 3-year-old a day later in the hospital. Two others, also younger than 10, recovered.
The occupants of the other vehicle involved, including two adults and three children 12 and younger, all from Lehigh Acres, were unhurt.
Zamago was not allowed to attend the funerals for her children.
News-Press archives contributed to this report. Stacey Henson is the breaking news and visuals editor for The Naples Daily News and News-Press. You may reach her at shenson@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Drunken Florida mom who let 14-year-old drive, killing 2, pleads guilty
