A road trip ended in sudden devastation when an unexpected highway crash left one mother dead and her three young children hospitalized.

On May 26, Olivia Maggs, a 32-year-old mother and nurse from Titusville, Florida, was killed in a violent crash on Interstate 95 near Palm Shores. The wreck, which occurred while she was driving with her three kids in the vehicle, left the community heartbroken and raised serious concerns about road safety.

The crash happened shortly after 12:25 p.m. on the southbound highway, just north of the Pineda Causeway in Brevard County

A 58-year-old man from Babylon, New York, was driving a 2003 Ford F-350 truck in the center lane when a tire blew out, according to Florida Highway Patrol officials.

The tire failure caused the driver to lose control, veering into the adjacent lane and striking the left side of a 2023 Honda Odyssey, which Olivia was driving. Both vehicles then left the roadway and slammed into a nearby guardrail.

Sadly, first responders pronounced Olivia dead at the scene. An airlift transported her 8-month-old daughter, Ella, to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital for treatment of a broken femur and a brain bleed.

The two boys in the vehicle—Jude and Noah—were also hurt, though their wounds were considered minor, and they are expected to recover.

Meanwhile, the driver and a 20-year-old female passenger in the Ford F-350 were not seriously harmed and remained at the scene. The highway was shut down temporarily following the crash but reopened later that day.

Olivia’s family shared details about the incident and its aftermath on a GoFundMe page created to support the children and the surviving spouse, Cody Austin Maggs. The page states that “kind strangers stopped to help and pulled the children from the vehicle.”

Those quick actions by bystanders potentially saved the children’s lives, especially given the critical condition of baby Ella. The fundraiser, organized by Gabrielle Wright and Aaron Wright on behalf of Cody, has raised over $179,000 toward a $250,000 goal through more than 2,300 donations as of this writing.

The same fundraiser page described Olivia as a “loving and gentle mother, devoted wife, and cherished daughter, sister, friend, and compassionate nurse.” It also acknowledged that “the family now faces a long road of healing; physically and emotionally.”

The heartbreak has rippled through everyone who knew Olivia, touching friends, coworkers, and loved ones who are now grappling with the depth of her absence. Her husband, Cody, shared a deeply emotional tribute on Facebook just one day after the crash.

The past day has been very difficult to comprehend and understand and will only get more complicated in the coming weeks as we grieve the loss of Olivia,” he wrote. “She is one of the most sweetest, gentle, patient and kind souls. A true servant’s heart. A beautiful mother. A loving wife. A nurse who was passionate about helping others. [sic]”

He also asked for continued prayers—especially for their sons who “had to sit in the car seeing their mom after the accident and have lots of tough questions,” and for Ella as she recovers from her life-threatening injuries.

Additionally, Cody’s post acknowledged the overwhelming support from the family’s community. He wrote, “This is such a beautiful community in such a mourning time.” A meal train has also been organized alongside the GoFundMe to help provide meals during this difficult time.

The emotional weight of the tragedy is also felt at Parrish Medical Center, where Olivia worked as a nurse for nearly nine years. In a Facebook post, the hospital honored her as a “dedicated nurse at Parrish Healthcare” who “touched countless lives through her compassion and unwavering commitment.”

Olivia began her career in the MedSurg Department and later moved to the Women’s Center, where her passion for caring for children shone through. Colleagues described her as someone whose “kindness, strength, and gentle spirit left a lasting impact.”

In an additional tribute, journalist Kaitlyn Ross called Olivia “a bright light… a loving mother, devoted wife, gentle nurse, and beloved daughter, sister, and friend.” She also mentioned the bravery of the strangers who stopped to pull the children out of the wreckage, a gesture that stands as a rare moment of hope amid heartbreak.

While the family and community begin their long journey of healing, the investigation into the crash is still ongoing. The Florida Highway Patrol has not yet determined the exact reason for the tire blowout on the Ford F-350 or whether any mechanical issues or environmental factors played a role.

Until then, questions remain about what exactly led to the tragic chain of events that cut Olivia’s life short. At this time, we offer the Maggs family and loved ones our sincere condolences.