Jovanna Saily Reyes Obituary, Haines City Acident Death: In Loving Memory

A quiet stretch of U.S. Highway 27 in Haines City turned into the scene of tragedy early Friday morning when a violent two-vehicle crash claimed the life of 24-year-old Jovanna Saily Reyes from Bowling Green. Reyes died at the scene after her car lost control and crashed into the outer wall of a church building, marking an end to her journey far from home.

The crash occurred around 12:29 a.m. on April 17, 2026, when deputies and fire rescue crews rushed to the scene near B. Moore Road after receiving reports of a serious collision. Upon arrival, they discovered a heavily damaged 2020 Hyundai Sonata that had veered off the highway, torn through a chain-link fence, and crashed into the First Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

According to investigators, the incident began moments earlier on the highway when Reyes’ vehicle collided with a 2019 Volvo semi-truck pulling a trailer. The impact forced her vehicle off the roadway, across the median, and into the opposite lanes before it ultimately crashed into the church property.

First responders found Reyes trapped inside the wreckage, and despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of her injuries. The force of the crash left little chance for survival.

The driver of the semi-truck, another 24-year-old woman, was unharmed and has been fully cooperating with the investigation. She explained that she had been traveling southbound before making a legal U-turn to head north and saw an oncoming vehicle in the distance before making the turn. Detectives later determined that Reyes’ car had struck the side of the trailer, partially going underneath it, before continuing out of control. Notably, there were no visible skid marks before the impact, leading investigators to consider that speed may have been a factor.

After hours of cleanup and evidence gathering, both sides of U.S. 27 were reopened. While the investigation continues, authorities have not indicated that any charges are expected at this time. For now, the family of Jovanna Reyes in Bowling Green is left to mourn a life tragically cut short.