Little Girl Who Was 'Excited to Be Turning 6' Died Weeks before Her Birthday after Crash with Police Car

• A family is utterly devastated after losing their little daughter, who was reportedly involved in a car crash over the weekend.
• Their beloved girl was set to celebrate her sixth birthday in a few weeks and was the oldest among three siblings.
• Here are the complete details of the heartbreaking incident.

In a tragic incident in Auburndale, Florida, over the weekend, a five-year-old girl named Jalina Anglin lost her life in a collision reportedly involving a law enforcement vehicle. The devastating event unfolded just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the intersection of U.S. 92 and Havendale Boulevard.

Jalina was seated in the back of a Kia sedan driven by her mother, Jer'Manica Mike'Kecea Anglin, 25. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Jer'Manica proceeded into the intersection after the light turned green, despite other traffic stopping for the Auburndale Police Department (APD) pickup truck driven by Sgt. Danny Swan.

The Tragic Incident

Sgt. Danny was responding to an emergency involving a deputy in a physical altercation with a suspect. The APD truck, with lights and sirens on, was said to have collided with Jer'Manica's car.

In another adorable post, Jer'Manica shared a photo of her little daughter from her graduation day.

Both drivers were said to be wearing seat belts, but authorities are investigating whether Jalina had been wearing one. Meanwhile, Daniel Harrell, Jalina's father, emotionally recalled, "She was in the back seat, and she had a seat belt on because I went to see her; she had seat belt burns on her body, so she had her seat belt on."

Jalina and her mother were rushed to a local hospital, where the young girl succumbed to her injuries. Jer'Manica was treated for a broken wrist and survived the crash.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd detailed the circumstances of the crash, noting that Sgt. Danny rushed to provide emergency help to a sheriff's deputy when the collision occurred. His vehicle's lights were on, and sirens were blaring. As Jer'Manica entered the intersection, she saw the green light. Despite efforts by emergency services, Jalina did not survive, and her mom sustained a wrist injury.

Sheriff Grady emphasized the importance of the public stopping when they hear sirens, identifying their source, and cautiously proceeding. He further expressed, "Sergeant Swan is devastated. Even though he was perfectly in his right to run emergencies through the light, it still doesn't make it any better for him or for the family of this child that is deceased."

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with no criminal charges anticipated. Jalina's autopsy is expected to provide further details on the exact cause of her untimely death.

Heartfelt Tributes for the Little Girl

The family is now mourning the loss of their baby girl, who was "excited to be turning 6" on January 7, 2024, and had three younger siblings. In an emotional tribute on Facebook, Jer'Manica expressed her grief and stated, "I'm blessed for the 5 years I had with you. My girl, my heart, I will forever love you...Visit me in my dreams. If I could trade my life with you, I would. I'm hurting so bad."

Jalina's dad remembered her as a talkative and sweet girl, saying, "She was Lina. She was bright and happy. She liked to talk. Everybody knows she was a good girl. She was sweet."

In another touching post, Daniel thanked his partner, Pretty Chey, for always loving and treating his daughter like hers. He wrote, "Thank you for loving her like your own. Not treating her no different from the others. She always told me I better marry you, she loves you and you're her stepmommy."

In a heartwarming post, Jer'Manica wrote about her little girl's lovely bond with her stepmom. She penned, "I'm so grateful my daughter had a stepmom like you in her life. You treated her like she was your own & she truly loved you. I love you ALWAYS and your kids will always be [a] part of my life I have to keep them close."

The San Francisco mom also gushed about Jalina's love for her dad, noting, "She truly was a daddy's girl. She loved her daddy so much & was quick to check anybody about her daddy. The bond y'all have can never be replaced. Always telling me something about her daddy."

In another adorable post, Jer'Manica shared a photo of her little daughter from her graduation day. "Thank you Mrs.Tina for all of your support. To the Elite Staff. Thank You for giving my daughter the best learning and loving yall ever could. She was loved by many people," she wrote in the caption.

In addition to Jalina's family's touching tributes, her mom's friend, Alyssa Rena, turned to Facebook to share her thoughts. She said:

"I read some of the worst news you can read as a friend, Auntie, and mother! I was so confused with words and thoughts cause never thought something like this was going to happen to my friend, to her family, and her friends...Lina was 5 when she passed but she'll always be a baby [Lina] to me."

Click here to read another story about a five-year-old girl who died in the hospital after being swept out into the water. Here's how her family paid tribute to their little girl with a "beautiful soul."