14-Year-Old Driver Wipes Out Mother, Younger Sister in Deadly Crash

Patrol and traffic deputies of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate why a 14-year-old unlicensed driver was behind the wheel of a vehicle that crashed Monday afternoon on US 17, resulting in the death of her mother and younger sister.

Investigators say, 14-year-old Destiny Ensslin of Fort Meade was driving a Chevy Colbalt on US 17 in Homeland, when she turned westbound onto CR 640 into the path of a silver 2005 Dodge Caravan heading southbound on US 17. The Dodge Caravan was being driven by Doris Foust, 77, of Fort Meade.

The crash killed her front seat passenger, her 42-year-old mother, Dawn Ensslin, who was pronounced dead at the Bartow Regional Regional Medical Center.  Destiny’s younger sister, 8-year-old Delaney Ensslin, who was a backseat passenger in the vehicle was declared dead on the scene.  

Investigators say, Destiny was airlifted to LRMC with critical injuires and is in stable condition. 

The collision caused the Dodge Caravan to roll and land on its driver’s side. Doris and her husband, 80-year-old Richard Foust who was in the front seat, suffered minor injuries and were transported to Bartow Regional Medical Center.

The two vehicles, after the collision, impacted a third, a 2001 Toyota Corolla that was attempting to make a turn from CR 640 southbound onto US 17. The driver, 56-year-old Martha Criswell, of Fort Meade, was transported to Bartow Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

Commenting on the double fatality, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd had this to say: “Unfortunately, a 14-year-old unlicensed teenager was driving a car and turned left on a green light into the path of another car, which subsequently resulted in the deaths of her mother and her sister. This is a tragic situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Ensslin family.”  

The investigation is ongoing.