Crash kills mother, injures baby daughter and another driver

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police are investigating a fatal crash that killed a 36-year-old mother and injured two others, including her baby daughter, during the early morning commute Friday.

It was not until late in the afternoon that Miramar Police determined that the victim, Nayfy Gutierrez, was the mother of the 1-year-old baby girl, Noor Fernandez, who survived probably thanks to a properly used car seat. "The baby was strapped safely in the car seat, and it shows what a car seat does," said Miramar Police Capt. Jeff Levine.

The fatal accident happened at around 6 a.m., and red light running may be to blame. Police are still trying to determine who may be at fault. "We have two separate witnesses who are giving us two varying accounts as to who actually may have ran the red light in the intersection," said Levine, "so right now we are currently investigating."

Gutierrez's black Mazda was travelling northbound on University Drive and crashed into the median on Pembroke Road, instantly killing her. Rescue crews transported the baby to Joe DiMaggio's Children's Hospital in Hollywood with minor injuries. She is currently under observation in the Intensive Car Unit.

Crews also transported the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup, Herbert Irving, to Memorial Regional Hospital in stable condition. He was released later that day.

Irving was travelling eastbound on Pembroke Road right before the impact knocked his pickup over on its side.

Both directions of Pembroke Road were shutdown east of University Drive while police investigated this accident well into the morning rush.

A neighbor who knew Gutierrez was shaken by the news. "I'm freaked out. Look at me now. I'm feeling chilly," Ivania Valaceda said.

Valaceda added that she noticed the mother in the neighborhood but never saw a father. She said she is not sure Gutierrez even has any family in the area to look after the baby.

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