CHRISTMAS, Fla. – It was with heavy hearts that congregation members walked through the doors of Christmas Church of God on Sunday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said church members Linda McCormick, 69, and her grandson, 13-year-old Dylon McCormick, were killed when a blue BMW crossed the median on State Road 50 near Gloucester Street Saturday afternoon.
"There were some that just couldn't deal with the trauma of coming to church and Linda not being here and Dylon not being here," Pastor J.D. Simmons said.
Simmons got the call about the fatal crash Saturday afternoon from Linda's son, Rick.
The BMW crashed into the truck Linda was driving. Troopers said Linda and the driver of the BMW died at the scene.
Dylon was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital, where he later died.
"It was a shock to us because she was such a huge part of the church, a huge part of the community. And to say that everyone loved Dylon is an understatement," Simmons said.
The two other people in the truck, Linda's husband, Ted, and his brother, Carl, both in their 70s, were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
"(Ted) has a severe hematoma on his forehead. Yesterday morning, the doctors did a heart (catheter) to be able to do a contrast dye into his brain to see if there was any fresh bleeding in the brain," Simmons said.
Simmons said Linda and her husband have been members of the church for about 20 years.
Always with them was Dylon.
Simmons said Dylon and his grandmother shared a special bond.
"They had a relationship that a lot of mothers and sons and mothers and daughters don't have," Simmons said.
Authorities have yet to release the identity of the man in the BMW.
There's no word on when funerals for Linda and Dylon will be held.