Victim in fatal Alafia River crash was 12-year-old girl, investigation underway

RIVERVIEW — The victim in a fatal crash along the Alafia River on Sunday was a 12-year-old girl and authorities are investigating whether criminal charges should be filed in the case, the Tampa Bay Times has learned.

Jasina Campbell died in the crash Sunday evening. A GoFundMe page for the girl’s family surface Monday.

“We lost Jasina yesterday on the river in a tragic accident,” says the page, created by a family friend.

When the Times asked the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner by name for a report on Jasina Campbell, a county spokesman said the records are exempt from disclosure under Florida records law as “active criminal intelligence information or active criminal investigative information.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has released few details about the crash. According to the agency, two people were in a tube being towed by a boat when the tube was struck by a personal watercraft about 7 p.m. along a stretch of the river east of Interstate 75.

One person in the tube was killed and a second was taken to the hospital. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office divers recovered the body.

“Due to the nature of this investigation, the FWC will not be releasing information about the individuals involved in the incident at this time,” spokeswoman Melody Kilborn said Monday in an email response to the Times. “Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of the deceased.”

Kilborn did not initially answer questions about the nature of the investigation and which exemption under Florida’s public records law the agency was relying upon in withholding the information. Then, late Friday afternoon, Kilborn confirmed the agency considers the information exempt due to an active criminal investigation and Marsy’s Law, a constitutional amendment meant to protect crime victims.

Jasina’s parents, Jason Campbell and Coquina Gibbs, could not immediately be reached. Hillsborough court records show they also have a 10-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son.

The creator of the GoFundMe page, Rita Mendez, did not respond to a message sent to her through the website. By Friday morning, nearly $25,000 had been raised — more than double the goal of $10,000.

“Decisions need to be made immediately as to where Jasina will be laid to rest,” the GoFundMe page says. “I’m asking for donations big or small, to help lift some of the financial burden off the family to help with final expenses and to help the family in this time of need.”