Palm Bay teen killed in head-on crash

44-year-old woman drove into oncoming traffic, troopers say

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PALM BAY, Fla. – A Palm Bay teenager is dead after a Friday night crash on Babcock Street, according to reports from Florida Highway Patrol. 

Troopers reported that 17-year-old passenger Zachary O'Quinn was taken to the hospital where he died after the 9 p.m. head-on collision in the southwestern part of Palm Bay, according to News 6 partner Florida Today.

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Investigators are awaiting blood alcohol tests for 44-year-old April Gielow, who they say was traveling north on Babcock Street near Willowbrook Street when she pulled into the southbound lane and struck the oncoming car driven by 18-year-old John Byrd of Palm Bay. 

Byrd suffered only minor injuries from the wreck in which troopers said Gielow struck the front passenger side of the vehicle where O'Quinn had been sitting. 

The Vero Beach woman was uninjured in the crash and investigators have not determined why she drove into the the southbound lane. 

The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending, according to FHP. 


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