An Atlanta teenager was killed and her sister was injured early Tuesday after authorities in Florida said the girls’ mother sped away from troopers at more than 100 mph and crashed her car into pine trees along I-75.
Aniyah Bynes, 15, was pronounced dead on the scene, the Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release. Clevia Bynes, 17, was taken to Lake City Medical Center with minor injuries.
According to the FHP, troopers began following Cinceria Cooke about 1 a.m. after they clocked the woman’s northbound Chrysler 300 going 103 mph near White Springs, which is about 30 miles south of the Florida-Georgia line.
Troopers said Cooke, 34, was driving “reckless” as she passed vehicles on the emergency shoulder, made improper lane changes and remained at more than 100 mph. Despite patrol vehicles activating their emergency lights in an attempt to pull her over, she continued driving away, troopers said.
At one point, Cooke “abruptly exited the interstate” at the Fla. 47 exit only to get back on heading north, the FHP said. She got off the interstate again, this time at the County Road 136 exit in Suwannee County. That is where troopers said Cooke lost control of her car and hit several pine trees on the shoulder of the interstate.
She was not wearing a seat belt, but both of her daughters were, authorities said. Cooke was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, with serious injuries.
A GoFundMe page created to raise money for Aniyah Bynes' funeral costs describes the teen as a sweet and caring young woman. As of Saturday, the page had nearly $1,300 of its $5,000 goal.
It’s unknown why Cooke was driving at such a high rate of speed before the chase began. An investigation is ongoing.
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