Alcohol was a factor in a crash that killed a woman's two sons and left six other children seriously hurt in Nassau County on Saturday, troopers said.
LATEST: Teen inside SUV describes moments before deadly Nassau County crash
Neighbors tell Action News Jax Tonya Capallia-Eason, 33 was drinking rum at a children’s Halloween party where alcohol was not being served before the accident.
People at the party said she helped clean up and was among the last to leave around 11:45 p.m.
The party hosts tell Action News Jax they tried to keep her from driving the Ford Expedition but she did so anyway.
Photos: Two boys killed in Nassau County crash
Eight children between 7 and 15 years old were in the SUV when she sped off. Troopers said she failed to negotiate a curve on Lonnie Crews Road near Lina Road.
The SUV crossed the southbound lane, hit a utility pole and flipped. It came to rest on its roof on the shoulder of Lina Road.
Friends say Capallia-Eason's two sons, 8 and 9 years old, were killed in the crash.
A 7-year-old, 13-year-old, 14-year-old and three 15-year-olds were seriously hurt in the crash.
According to the crash report, Capallia-Eason was treated for minor injuries.
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Community members reflected on what happened at a vigil for the victims Sunday night.
“It’s tragic for our community,” said Dawn Glisson, who was a teacher for several of the children involved. “We need to join together as a community and pray for this family and the other children involved in this tragic accident.”
The incident shocked many in the area, who say this was entirely out of character for Capallia-Eason.
They say she was a dedicated and involved parent.
“I don’t even know how to fathom what Tonya was thinking,” said Glisson. “We have got to start learning some lessons that alcohol does not go with driving.”
We dug into Capallia-Eason’s driving record. She’s been charged twice with driving without a license.
She does not have any DUIs on her record.
We now know 33yo Tonya Capallia-Eason was driving 8 children (4 of them her own) from a Halloween party. @ActionNewsJax
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) October 24, 2016
The party hosts say she'd been drinking rum that night, and they tried to get her not to drive home. https://t.co/haObU43yNz
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) October 24, 2016
Community members tell me they "can't fathom" why she drove after the party, with all the kids in the SUV. @ActionNewsJax
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) October 24, 2016
@ActionNewsJax has confirmed these are the two boys killed in last night's accident in Nassau County. pic.twitter.com/VltIwj8Zs9
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) October 23, 2016
This is the memorial for the two children that died. 6 other kids were in the car and were injured. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/OP5DeA5X8u
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) October 23, 2016
A memorial is growing at the crash site where 2 children were killed and 6 were seriously hurt in Nassau County. Police say alcohol was a factor in the crash:
Posted by Action News Jax on Sunday, October 23, 2016
People have come by to pay their respects ahead of a vigil that is expected tonight. <a href="https://twitter.com/ActionNewsJax">@ActionNewsJax</a> <a href="https://t.co/Rwx0uvZktl">pic.twitter.com/Rwx0uvZktl</a>
People have come by to pay their respects ahead of a vigil that is expected tonight. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/Rwx0uvZktl
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) October 23, 2016
According to crash report, the Ford Expedition with 9 people was driving north and hit utility pole. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/uWpfoFJuA2
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) October 23, 2016
Crews fix utility pole hit in Nassau Co. crash last night. 2 kids killed, alcohol involved in crash @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/ItyH9679tm
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) October 23, 2016
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