Family of Tampa mother killed by alleged speeding driver shares emotional message

Tampa mother of four was killed in a crash after police say a Pasco County man was driving 100 miles per hour.

Gary Manist, 67, is in the Hillsborough County Jail, charged with one felony count of vehicular homicide. 

Paige Howard with one of her kids.

Paige Howard with one of her kids.

On the morning of Jan. 3, Paige Howard was heading to the DMV, her family told FOX 13. She was heading north on McKinley Dr. near Busch Gardens and was making a left turn onto Bougainvillea Ave.

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The crash

The backstory:

Coming from the opposite direction was Manist, according to Tampa police. Witnesses told investigators they heard the Pasco County resident "accelerating as the traffic light was changing."

Manist’s pickup truck collided with Howard’s vehicle.

"She had her seatbelt on, but it didn't really matter," Howard’s mother, Jessica Wiggins, said. "He hit her so hard."

The intersection the crash occurred.

The intersection the crash occurred.

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Manist was reportedly driving over 100 mph, according to police. The posted speed limit on McKinley Dr. is 45 mph.

Sadly, Howard died on the scene. She was 26 years old.

"I'm happy that she felt nothing, that she didn't suffer. But now we're all suffering, you know? Especially her children," an emotional Wiggins told FOX 13.

About Howard’s family

Dig deeper:

Howard leaves behind four kids ranging in age from 3 to 7 years old. 

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Her family said she loved to cook and had a great sense of humor. She was the second oldest of Wiggins’ four daughters and "always wanted to help people," Wiggins said.

Warning others

Why you should care:

Howard’s family set up a memorial near the intersection where the crash happened. 

A picture to honor Howard.

A picture to honor Howard.

They’re doing what they can to keep her memory alive and to bring about change so that no other family will know their pain.

"Slowing down," Wiggins said of her message. "You don't know whose life you could be taking. You don't know the impact of what could happen. I have four grandchildren now that don't have a mother."

The Source: All the information reported in the story was reported by FOX 13's Ariel Plasencia.

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