Authorities are releasing the identities of those involved in Sunday morning's Interstate 75 accident, and Santa Fe College identified one of the fatalities as a longtime student.
Christie Nguyen, a 27-year-old Santa Fe College student, mother and member of the Dance Theatre of SFC, died in the series of crashes, which involved about 20 vehicles and left 10 dead and 21 injured.
"Everybody remembers her as the girl who loved two things more than anything: her son and her dancing," said Alora Haynes, chair of the Fine Arts department at SFC. "She was always smiling. She was a very pleasant person and so much fun."
Nguyen earned an associate of arts and an associate of science in business administration, as well as two vocational certificates in business, from SFC. She also attended UF.
This semester at SFC, she was enrolled in Anatomy and Physiology 2.
"The dance program is just devastated," Haynes said. "The dance program was like Christie's family. My phone is ringing off the hook with students asking, 'Is it true?'"
Nguyen kept coming back and taking classes at SFC so she could continue to dance, Haynes said.
"This was where most of her happiness was," Haynes said. "She was like a forever Santa Fe student. We were like her family."
A memorial service is being planned for Saturday. The college will provide more information as it becomes available.
Christie Nguyen (far left), a mother, longtime Santa Fe College student and dancer, died in Sunday morning's Interstate 75 accident.
