A Bahamian mother’s unimaginable loss: Three children gone in Florida crash
For a Bahamian mother living in Florida, her children were more than the babies she brought into the world. Marshall Clarke-Milton called them her pride, joy and the centre of a family built on love, laughter and kindness.
Charles, Jakara and Dalvena were among six people killed in a fiery crash on the Florida Turnpike near mile marker 252 on Friday night. The siblings were travelling with their significant others and a friend to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights when tragedy struck.
“Jesus, all of my children are dead.
“Why Lord would you take all my babies. All 3…I’m numb… I can’t think… I can’t … sleep,” she lamented.
In a heartbreaking tribute shared on social media, Marshall recalled the difficult pregnancies she endured to bring each child into the world, describing the medical challenges she faced to carry them to full term.
“I birthed you, raised you, molded you, and educated you, but most importantly I filled you with love, kindness, and respect for everyone,” she wrote.
She remembered teaching her children to stand up for those who could not defend themselves and to love people openly. Their home, she recalled, was often filled with other people’s children, many of whom came to call her “Ma.”
Even in her grief, she reflected on the memories that will remain with her: the siblings laughing together, sharing stories and filling a room with the warmth of family.
The last message in their group chat was their mother checking that they had arrived safely. She did not know then that her children were already gone.
“I wouldn’t change a single moment of our lives shared together with the exception of Friday night,” she wrote.
Marshall later told FOX 35 that she sensed something was wrong when she could not reach her children. After contacting officials and providing their names, she learned that two had been identified.
Her husband, Charles Milton Sr., also spoke of the family’s devastating loss, describing the struggle to get through each hour and each day.
Their granddaughter has become a source of strength as they try to face a future without three of their children.
But alongside their grief is a demand for answers.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a roadside assistance truck had been moving across the roadway to help a disabled box truck when it was struck by the Chevrolet Traverse carrying the six victims. Both vehicles left the road, and the SUV caught fire. All six occupants died.
Marshall has questioned aspects of the initial account, saying investigators should examine vehicle data and other evidence before determining responsibility. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the investigation remains open, while the National Transportation Safety Board announced its own investigation into the crash.
