Community Corner

Family, Friends Work to Collect Donations for Accident Victim

Those who knew Jolee Tarrant are in the process of raising money to bring her family to a Tuesday memorial service and defray funeral costs.

Family and friends of Hayley Mann and Jolee Tarrant are raising money to bring Tarrant’s family to Temple Terrace in order to attend her memorial.

Tarrant, of California, was killed in a in Zephyrhills. According to the Florida High Patrol, Mann, 20, of Temple Terrace, was driving northbound on Chancey Road, approaching County Road 54 when she failed to stop for a red traffic light at the intersection. At this point, Mann’s Toyota Echo drove into the path of an oncoming tow truck. The front of the tow truck collided with the left side of Mann’s car.

Tarrant, 19, the passenger in the car, died at the scene. Mann was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital in serious condition. She has since been released.

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“Jolee was (Hayley’s) dearest friend,” said Karen Mwaugh, Mann’s second cousin who is helping coordinate the fund-raising. “This is tough all around.”

The Tampa Bay Times reported Friday that the women were best friends and were traveling to a tea shop when they had the accident.

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Tarrant was a student at , and that’s where she met Mann. Although Mann didn’t continue taking classes there last semester, Tarrant did, the Tampa Bay Times reported. She had been living with Mann and her family in Temple Terrace during her Christmas break.

There will be a memorial service for Tarrant at Florida College’s Hutchinson Auditorium Tuesday at 7 p.m.

“Please pray for her family, others involved in the accident and the Florida College community as we cope with this tragedy,” a post on the Florida College website reads.

Mwaugh said family and friends are collecting donations to help defray Tarrant’s funeral expenses and to bring six of Tarrant’s family members to town for the service.

“They have no idea how many people loved her and cared about her,” Mwaugh said.

Stay with Patch to find out how you can donate to the cause.


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