ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — What began as a joyful family gathering turned into an unthinkable tragedy for the loved ones of 94-year-old Aida Maldonado, whose life was cut short in a violent crash Monday evening. After spending a warm day surrounded by laughter, food, and the comfort of her daughter’s home, Maldonado was helped into her wheelchair and onto an Access Lynx bus for what was supposed to be a short 30-minute ride back to her nursing home. Loved ones were already waiting there to welcome her, her pajamas neatly folded on her bed — a tender detail that now serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the moments she never made it home.
When Maldonado did not arrive at her expected time, her family grew concerned and checked the bus-tracking app. The bus appeared stopped on Rock Springs Road, unmoving. At nearly the same moment, tragedy had struck. Investigators say a Ford Mustang, driven by an 18-year-old at a high rate of speed, slammed into the side of the Access Lynx bus with such force that the vehicle was knocked off its axles. Only faint skid marks marked the pavement, leaving authorities unsure whether the driver attempted to brake at all before impact.
Maldonado and another passenger — an 81-year-old man whom neighbors say relied on Access Lynx for transportation to dialysis — were both killed in the crash. The teenage driver of the Mustang and a 17-year-old passenger were rushed to the hospital, where they remained in serious condition as of Tuesday afternoon. Troopers continue investigating the speed, impact, and sequence of events that led to the devastating collision.
For her grieving family, the loss of Maldonado is almost too much to comprehend. “We still can’t believe it,” said her granddaughter, Edna McGrew. “We went to the nursing home yesterday to pick up some of her stuff… it’s really hard.” The family had just celebrated a beautiful day together, unaware it would be their final moments with her.
Maldonado was known as the spirited heart of her family — a woman full of joy, humor, and love, even at 94. She adored music and often joked that Puerto Rican singer Chayanne was her boyfriend. Just last month, her family surprised her with a special trip to Miami to see him perform in honor of her birthday. It was a memory they cherished, unaware it would become one of their last gifts to her.
She loved deeply and openly, blessing everyone she met. “Every time you see her, she always say, ‘God bless everybody. I love everyone,’” recalled her great-grandson, Sergio Torres. As investigators continue searching for answers, Maldonado’s family — and the Orange County community — mourn a life remembered for love, light, and the irreplaceable joy she brought to those around her.
