FHP: Drunk driver caused crash that killed mother of two

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A young mother of two was killed early Tuesday morning in a crash on I-275 in St. Petersburg that Florida Highway Patrol said was caused by a drunk driver.

Kasey Gibson, 27, was a passenger in a car heading south on the interstate when, according to troopers, a Mercedes, driven by Malo Blackshear, slammed into the back of the car.

Blackshear, 45, and the other driver, Nona Evans, 23, suffered minor injuries. Gibson, however, died at the scene.

"This was just too quick. Too quick," said Shelia Brown, Gibson's mother. "[It's] like I'm talking to her yesterday, talking to her last night...and like that, she's gone. Just that quick."

The accident shut down I-275 South for several hours Tuesday morning.

Brown said Gibson has two daughters who are five and eight years old. Brown said she's trying to figure out how to grieve and be there for her loved ones at the same time.

"All I could do is just give them some time and when they're ready, I'm here," she said.

Blackshear is facing a DUI manslaughter charge, but FHP said he could face more charges as the investigation continues.

Brown said she hopes Blackshear knows how much he hurt her family.

"He took a life from me. He took a life from me and my kids and my grandkids," she said. "I'm trying to be strong for her kids and her sisters and brothers." 

According to FHP, everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.