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Crash Fatality Wounds Family

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By MIKE WELLS The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2008

Updated: 02/07/2008 11:34 pm

A baby girl, a husband and an identical twin sister are among those suffering the loss of Monica DeMarco, the Brandon woman who died in a crash Wednesday night on Lumsden Road.

Elisha Gornto, 18, said her sister didn't have life insurance and the family is trying to raise money to cover funeral expenses. They are working toward setting up a trust fund at a bank that could accept donations, she said.

Until then, funeral services can't be decided, she said.

DeMarco and her husband, Salvatore DeMarco, 20, have a baby girl, Harmony, whose first birthday was Wednesday, Gornto said.

She said her sister "had just started bowling, and they were going to go that night. She was going to get gas and something to eat and then pick up her husband from work."

Investigators said DeMarco was driving a 1999 Toyota Corolla north on Heather Lakes Boulevard at 8:17 p.m. She stopped at Lumsden and turned left into the path of a 1994 Ford Explorer. She died at the scene, deputies said.

The driver of the Ford, Eric Crossen, 36, of Brandon, was heading east on Lumsden. On Wednesday night, Crossen was listed in serious condition at Tampa General Hospital, deputies said. His condition was not available Thursday.

DeMarco grew up with her sister, living in foster homes in Plant City and Brandon, Gornto said.

DeMarco had begun classes to earn a General Educational Development certificate, but left school to find a job to help support her child, Gornto said, and worked at a RaceTrac gas station on Brandon Boulevard.

DeMarco's sister-in-law, Julie Wicker, said there will be a bake sale Saturday and Sunday at First Choice Haircutters at 909 E Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon.

Local businesses are accepting donations for DeMarco's family, including BuddyFreddys restaurant at Gornto Lake Road; all First Choice Haircutters locations; RaceTrac on Brandon Boulevard.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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