> 'They were my everything': Lone survivor of Christmas Day crash reflects on loss of 3 family members
'They were my everything': Lone survivor of Christmas Day crash reflects on loss of 3 family members
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Description
A tight-knit Palm Harbor family is facing unimaginable tragedy.
John 'Jack' Daniels, his mother, and his grandparents were headed home from a Christmas party with extended family when they crashed into two other cars.
It happened at the intersection of US-301 and Ambleside Boulevard in Riverview.
Jack's mother and grandmother in the backseat died that day. His grandfather, who'd been driving the car, died two days later from complications due to his injuries.
"On Christmas Day, of all days, that was the day I never thought anything bad would happen in my life, and for three of my family members to go, my closest family members, I'm in all of this alone now," Jack said.
Jack said his world revolved around his mother, Shelly Daniels, 60, his grandmother Lynne Firth, 82, and grandfather William 'Bill' Firth, 87.
"I don't know what to do without them," Jack said. "They were my everything."
Shelly adopted Jack when he was three. He said she was the most generous, caring person he's ever known, working tirelessly to give him every opportunity.
"She was a beautiful character. She was a widowed mom who raised two kids, two adopted kids," Jack said.
All three of his loved ones lived lives of service. Shelly was a local oncology nurse with Baycare. She spent years working at Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor.
His grandparents were long-time volunteers with Toymakers of Eastlake, a charity that crafts hand-made toys for kids in need.
"They spent their last days not working on themselves or focusing on themselves, but rather, focusing on the needs of others," Jack said.
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