An Ocala mother accused of telling her four children to take off their seatbelts before crashing into a tree is facing four counts of domestic attempted murder.
Calicia Williams, who remains hospitalized at Ocala Regional Medical Center, was driving a white Pontiac minivan in the 800 block of SE 31st Street that crashed into a tree Wednesday after striking a curb and traveling across a grassy median. The collision resulted in extensive damage to the front passenger side of the van, an Ocala Police report states.
The on-scene traffic homicide investigator reported that due to tire and furrow marks in the median, it appeared the Pontiac was steering directly toward the tree. Personnel from Ocala Fire Rescue advised officers that none of Williams’ children were wearing proper safety belts or restraints, the report says.
At the crash scene, Williams was observed making spontaneous utterances while her children were being treated by paramedics. Detectives spoke with witnesses who said that Williams was traveling at a high rate of speed and had told the children to take off their seatbelts and stretch out their hands. She allegedly said, “The devil can’t hurt you. He only hurts bad people. You have the light of Jesus in you and only Jesus can cure us,” the report says.
All of the van’s occupants were transported to area hospitals to receive medical treatment following the crash. The children, who all were taken to UF Health Shands Hospital, sustained injuries consistent with not wearing seatbelts or proper restraints and their condition is unknown.
Williams will be transported to the Marion County Jail upon being released from the hospital. A request has been made to hold her without bond.