Riverview Family Needs Community's Help Following Fatal Car Crash

Precocious, outgoing and sweet-natured, 5-year-old Lilly Christine Mills had just graduated from preschool.

"She was so smart," said her great-grandmother Sharon Trapp. "She could name every state in the country, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and already knew how to read and write."

Now, instead of planning for her first year in kindergarten, her family is planning for her funeral Tuesday at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home.

Lilly died July 2 after the minivan she was riding in was broadsided by a car at the intersection of Bloomingdale Avenue and U.S. 301. The driver of that car, Rolando Rojas, 52, of 120 E. Crenshaw St., Tampa, has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence manslaughter, reckless driving involving serious injury, four counts of DUI involving property damage and DUI.

The accident occurred at 4:56 p.m. Friday, July 1, just before rush hour. Samantha Anne Populin, 25, was driving the family's minivan with her husband, Paul Wilson Mills, 29, in the passenger seat. In the back seats were four children. Two, Lilly 5, and Sophia, 2 1/2, were the natural children of Populin and Mills. The other two, Kayla, 10, and Audrey, 7, are Mills' children from a previous marriage.

"But all four girls were as close as sisters can be," said Trapp. "The entire family had been out shopping for new cell phones and were returning home when the accident occurred.

"My grandson, Paul, doesn't remember much about the crash. He just remembers hearing children crying and seeing airbags," said Trapp. "All of them were wearing seatbelts but Lilly was sitting on the side that was hit."

The family was taken to Tampa General Hospital where Lilly died.

"My grandson had to say goodbye and watch her be taken off life support," said Trapp. "He said it's the hardest thing he's ever done."

A tiler and carpenter, Paul Mills sustained neck and back injuries and is currently unable to work.

Audrey received facial injuries that will require plastic surgery, said Trapp.

Unfortunately, she said, the driver who hit them had only $20,000 in insurance.

"That won't even cover one night in the hospital," said Trapp. "So, in addition to losing their little girl, this family has no way to pay their rent, utilities or medical bills."

To help, the family has established a bank account in the name of Samantha Poulin/Paul Mills at Bank of America, account no. 1800 4321000 or send checks to the Samantha Populin/Paul Mills Contribution Fund at Bank of America, 13180 U.S. 301 S., Riverview, or any Bank of America branch. Donations also can be sent directly to the family at their Riverview home, 8431 Valrie Lane, 33569.

"We are just trying to take one day at a time," said Trapp, a retired nurse who flew in from her home in Costa Rica following news of the accident. "But this has just been devastating. And to think the driver that hit them walked away with only minor injuries. I've seen so many lives destroyed by alcohol in my career as a nurse but this is the worst."

In addition to her parents and her sister, she is survived by her maternal grandparents, Mike and Isben Populin, and paternal grandparents; Robert and Julie Mills.

A funeral will be held on Tuesday, July 12 at 11 a.m. at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. All are welcome to join the family in wearing Lilly's favorite color, pink. Burial will follow at Serenity Meadows Memorial Park.