Riverview Crash Claims Young Girl’s Life

A July 1 crash in Riverview, near the intersection of Bloomingdale Avenue and U.S. 301, has led to the death of a 5-year-old girl and the arrest of a man facing DUI charges.

Lilly Mills, 5, of Brandon, died July 2, at 4:56 p.m., at Tampa General Hospital, from injuries she sustained in the July 1 crash.

Her sister, Audrey, 7 was reported in fair condition at Tampa General Hospital as of noon July 3.

Four other passengers in the family mini-van were treated and released.

The driver who reportedly caused the accident, Rolando Rojas, 52, of 120 East Crenshaw St., remained hospitalized at Tampa General, where he was being treated for minor injuries.

Rojas is facing two counts of driving under the influence – serious bodily injury.

“As things are developing now, with the death of the little girl, that will be bumped up to DUI-manslaughter,” said Sgt. Steve Gaskins, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol, in an interview today.

Rojas was expected to be released from the hospital today and taken into custody.

Also reported injured in the accident were van occupants Samantha Anne Populin, 25; Paul Wilson Mills, 29; Kayla Marie Mills, 10 and Sophia Evy Mills, 2.

Gaskins said Populin is the mother of Lilly Mills and one of the other children in the mini-van. Paul Mills is the father of all four children.

According to the accident report, Rojas was driving north on U.S. 301 in a 1999 Ford Ranger when, at 9:37 p.m., he tried to pass between two vehicles that were stopped for traffic south of Bloomingdale Avenue.

He reportedly sideswiped both — a Nissan Altima in the outside lane and a Honda Civic — and then continued into the intersection, where he crashed into the right side of the 2002 Chrysler van driven by Samantha Populin. Rojas’ truck then rolled over and hit a Ford Mustang.

Mark Filteau was working at a fireworks stand at the junction when he heard the five-vehicle crash that would end the Brandon girl’s life.

“It wasn’t very loud but when I turned around a pickup truck was flipping,” Filteau said. "The force of the crash was so strong the wheel of the pickup flew off.”

An unmarked police car, already stopped at the intersection barely avoided the crash, according to Filteau. “He was driving a black unmarked car and just missed being hit. He must have seen the whole thing.”

Filteau said he believed the car was an unmarked police vehicle because, as soon as the accident happened, the driver flipped on emergency flashing lights.

A crowd gathered around the van almost immediately after the crash, Filteau said. “Within a few minutes there were at least 15 people gathered around the van trying to help.”

The crash remains under investigation.