Brevard County, FL— A 20-year-old woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 95 shortly before midnight Sunday, according to reports.
Authorities identified the victim as Cassi Taylor, a Civilian Corrections Assistant with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. She lost control of her vehicle after swerving to avoid another car that had collided with an alligator in the roadway, leading to her vehicle overturning.
Witnesses stated that Taylor was ejected from her Toyota Tacoma during the crash and was subsequently struck by an unidentified vehicle that fled the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt at the time, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
The driver of the Mercedes-Benz that initially struck the alligator, a 58-year-old Canadian man, was unharmed and remained at the scene.
An investigation is ongoing as authorities work to locate the driver of the vehicle that left the scene. FHP is urging anyone with information to come forward.
Taylor had recently joined the sheriff's office on July 20, 2026, and was scheduled to be sworn in the day following the incident. The sheriff's office expressed condolences to her family, including her father, Deputy Scott Burke.