Witness in Alexandria Chery's murder case killed in Apopka head-on crash

APOPKA, Fla. — Mangled metal littered the pavement at Clarconoa Road and Cleveland Street Saturday night after a head-on crash that killed two people.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said it was the result of recklessness.

“This is really an unfortunate situation where someone got in a hurry and didn’t want to wait,” said Cpl. Kris Neutzling.

Troopers said Rufus Howard, 28, was passing a car in front of him when he crashed head-on into Corey Saint Simon, 24.

Channel 9 learned Howard was a convicted sex offender.

Troopers said it wasn’t a passing lane.

Corey Saint Simon’s loved ones grieved her loss at their home in Pine Hills.

It’s not the first tragedy to come to the family recently.

Corey Saint Simon was a witness in the Alexandria Chery murder investigation.

She was the cousin of Sanel Saint Simon, who is accused of killing Chery last August.

Reports show she loaned her car to Sanel Saint Simon in July.

It’s the same car where Chery’s blood was found inside.

Sanel Saint Simon faces the death penalty if convicted.

“They said they’re going to kill him for what he did. I don’t know. I hope they (don’t) kill him,” said Corey Saint Simon’s father, Charles Saint Simon.

Charles Saint Simon said he can’t bear to suffer any more heartbreak.

“She’s real good to me. She loves her dad. I love my daughter,” he said.

Troopers said what made Howard's maneuver even more dangerous was how dark it was at the time of the crash.

Other drivers were forced to take evasive action, though no one else was hurt.

WFTV