Hudson woman arrested in wreck that killed 5-year-old triplet

For four months, the family of Delaney Rossman anxiously awaited the arrest of the motorist investigators say killed the 5-year-old triplet as she played in a front yard.

Word came about noon today that their former neighbor Betty Jo Tagerson, 39, had been arrested on vehicular homicide and reckless driving charges in the November wreck that also injured Delaney's sisters and another youngster.

"I am both happy and sad at the same time," said the triplets' mother, Danielle Malm. "It's hard to be happy for someone else's grief, but at the same time, it makes me feel that we might get justice in this case."

The waiting "has been very difficult, though I was confident that the police were investigating and we would get to this point," she said.

Just after 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, the triplets - Delaney, Gabrielle and Isabella - were playing with their half-sister, Victoria Morgan, 10, and a 9-year-old friend in the front yard of 12904 King Manor Ave.

Down the street, troopers said, Tagerson was arguing with her boyfriend in her front yard at 12910 King Manor. "She then angrily got into her Jeep and rapidly drove out of her yard," according to a Florida Highway Patrol arrest affidavit.

Tagerson lost control of the 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which struck a mailbox, then a parked truck and then four of the children, investigators said.

Tagerson was ejected from the SUV, which continued across the street and into the driveway of the triplets' home, where it smashed into the family's minivan.

Delaney was pronounced dead an hour later at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Gabrielle suffered multiple broken bones, internal bleeding and a collapsed lung. She spent almost two weeks in hospital.

Isabella suffered minor injuries, as did the 9-year-old friend. Victoria escaped injury.

Tagerson was taken to St. Joseph's but released the day after the wreck.

Troopers said the Jeep had been traveling at least 44 mph in the 30 mph zone.

Malm said Gabrielle and Isabella are doing OK.

"They are doing their daily routines, trying to be kids.

"I prepared them for the fact that this was coming," she said of the arrest. "My oldest daughter was happy to hear that. My other two don't really understand that."

Tagerson also was cited for having no insurance, defective equipment and not wearing a seatbelt, the highway patrol said. She was taken to the Pasco County Jail; bail was set at $15,250.

Malm said Delaney's sisters "miss her tremendously. They talk about her often and usually tell me they miss her and are thinking about her."

The sisters are getting counseling and the family has moved to Shady Hills because of "all the traumatic things that have happened," she said.

"We are just completely different," Malm said. "We are getting three kids up in the morning instead of four, setting five places at dinner instead of six. Life has changed in every way. Every day, all of the time, we realize that one of us is missing."

haltman@tampatrib.com

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