The 4-year-old girl who was killed when a car crashed into a Florida day care center on Wednesday was passionate and "absolutely infectious," her devastated mother told NBC News.
“She was a princess and a superhero at the same time. She was absolutely infectious, and I will miss her for the rest of my life," said Nicole Quintus of her daughter Lily, who was waiting to eat a snack when a car plowed into the day care center.
The car killed Lily dead and injured 14 others after it was struck by an SUV, causing it to crash into KinderCare in Winter Park, Fla. Twelve of those injured are children.
"I'm angry because when you bring your child to a childcare center you expect them to be safe," Christina Carde, whose young son was injured, told NBC News.
Lily was one of 13 transported to area hospitals, while two were treated at the scene.
"They had three surgeons working on her and they still couldn't put her back together," Quintus said.
Lily's father, Brian, is a paramedic, and a fellow firefighter has set up a donation page to raise money to cover funeral expenses for the family, NBC affiliate WESH reported.
Nicole Quintus told The Associated Press that her daughter was sitting at a table waiting for her afternoon snack when the wreck happened. She said three surgeons tried to save her daughter.
She said Lily adored princesses, "Star Wars" and "Dr. Who," and she doused all her food in ranch dressing.
"(Lily) was my daughter's best friend, so now I'm trying to figure how can I tell her why she can't see her anymore," said Carolina Fernandez.
The driver of the SUV, Robert Corchado, 28, fled the scene, but turned himself in on Thursday and is being held without bond on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident with death.
— Kerry Sanders
Elisha Fieldstadt contributed to this report.
