A Miami woman died Saturday night after the van she was in rolled over on the highway near Orlando.
The van, which was carrying a group of missionaries, lost control on the Florida Turnpike by mile marker 204 in Kenansville, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
Mirlende Chery, known as Missou in the congregation, and a large group of missionaries were almost at their destination in Orlando when Florida Highway Patrol says driver, 42-year-old Willem Camille lost control of the van after the vehicle lost a tire.
The van overturned several times and Chery was killed as she was ejected from the passenger's seat.
"I'm shocked, when I heard my friend got hurt, I didn't know what to do," said Ellen Claude, whose friend was partaking in the weekend trip.
The 19 passengers were taken to six different hospitals by air and ground, according to authorities.
The missionaries were all part of a group called GSC Community Involvement, also known as "Soldiers of Christ."
Local
"She was deeply involved to the activities in church and she said that it was her call[ing] to do missions," said Gilbert Jean-Pierre, Chery’s longtime friend.
The non-profit Christian organization travels from city to city to help small churches grow, and also do missionary work in Haiti.
"She is a soldier in the battlefield for the name of Christ," said Warner Bouvais, a member of the church.
FHP will continue the investigation.
Stay with NBC6.com and NBC 6 South Florida for updates.
More Local Stories:
