MASCOTTE, Fla. – A Central Florida family is grieving as a community comes together.
Ashley Tyer, a mother of two, died after clinging to the hood of a car while trying to stop a customer from driving off without paying.
Now, her family is sharing their final moments with her as friends and co-workers honor her life.
Sheryl Meadows said she watched her daughter on life support, fighting until the end.
“When they unplugged her, I was holding her hand. She squeezed my finger real hard. I know that was just a body reaction, but it meant a lot to me,” said Meadows, Tyer’s mother.
Tyer died last week after the incident at Just Stop Tires in Mascotte, according to family members.
“I’ve lost a lot of people. That was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever been through,” said Jody Meadows, Tyer’s uncle.
The community and the tire shop where Tyer worked for seven years gathered with food, prayers and remembrances to honor her life.
“It means a lot to me. It means a great deal to me. They all loved her,” Sheryl Meadows said.
The suspected driver, Brandon Lewis, was arrested earlier this week and charged with vehicular homicide.
“I think it’s only right he should pay for his wrongs and what he did. He took the mother of my great-niece and nephew,” Jody Meadows said.
“He should be stopped. Whatever happens to him, he should not get out of jail,” he said.
As the family grieves, they said they are focused on seeking justice and ensuring Tyer is not forgotten.