Family of woman who died in Cooper City canal crash speaks out: "I'll never be the same"
COOPER CITY — The family of 23-year-old Caitlynn Heron is shattered, and their lives are forever changed. They are mourning Heron, who died when she crashed into a Cooper City canal early Wednesday morning.
CBS News Miami spoke to Heron's parents and sister and is the only station to also have a picture of the boyfriend who was with her in the crash.
"I lost my daughter. My little mouse. The feelings are, I can't even bring to words. I'll never be the same," said Frank Heron, her dad.
"I loved her, I loved her very much. She was my baby girl. She was my youngest out of four girls. Twenty-three is just way too young," said her mother, Blanche Pastore.
The Broward Sheriff's Office said Heron was driving with her boyfriend, 24-year-old Joseph Foster, in the passenger seat on Wednesday around 6 a.m. when she crashed into a bridge barrier and plunged into a canal near Griffin Road and SW 90 Avenue. Foster was able to escape, but Heron died in the crash.
Pastore said she identified her daughter by the matching tattoos they got together.
"We had put it off for a couple of years and I'm so glad that we finally did it a couple of months ago because I have something, something that's on me," Pastore said.
Heron's family and friends remember her as a hard worker and a kind and caring soul.
"We're Irish twins. We're 11 months apart. So, for 12 days out of the year, we were the same age, so we were super close. I mean, that was my other half, I'll never be a whole person again," said Brianna Heron, Caitlynn Heron''s sister.
"One of the greatest souls on the planet. A loving young woman who would help anybody, such a sweetheart," said Frank Heron.
Her family said she had dreams of traveling the world and achieving success. Now, they're left with only memories of their precious daughter and beloved sister.
"I would just tell her how much I love her. And I'm going to miss her and there is nobody who could replace her. I wish I could give everything I have to get her back," said Pastore.
Foster's family said he broke several bones and will need surgeries but is expected to be okay.
There will be a candlelight vigil for Caitlynn heron on Friday at 5 p.m. at her favorite bar, Geronimo's grill.