CRAIG FUNERAL HOME
Flagler Beach, Florida
Sunday, July 29, 2012



A funeral service for Lane Jerome Burnsed, 18, of Bunnell will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 10:00AM at First Baptist Church of Bunnell. Internment to follow at Espanola Cemetery.

Lane died tragically in a car accident on July 27, 2012. He was born May 20, 1994 in Deland, FL. He was a graduate of homeschooling and was employed at T-Brand Fertilizer in Bunnell. He was a member of Flagler Gun and Archery Club. Lane enjoyed fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and archery. His passing has left behind a devastated family. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten by all those who loved him.

He is survived by his parents James A. Burnsed Jr. and Iola Burnsed; brother, Luke Burnsed; sisters, Leah and Lacy Burnsed; paternal-grandfather, James A. Burnsed Sr. and his wife Ginny of Palatka; paternal-grandmother, Suzette Pellicer of Bunnell; maternal-grandfather, Richard Brown of Palm Bay; maternal-grandmother, Sonya Polesnek of Walterboro, S.C.; many other extended and beloved family and friends.

Donations in his memory may be made to Wounded Warrior Project Services are in the care and
trust of Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home.

THE DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL
Daytona Beach, Florida
Sunday, July 29, 2012

Lane Jerome Burnsed, 18, of Bunnell, passed away suddenly in a tragic car accident.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 10:00AM at the First Baptist Church of Bunnell; internment to follow at Espanola Cemetery.

Arrangements are in the care and trust of Craig-Flagler Palms Funeral Home.

THE DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL
Daytona Beach, Florida
Saturday, July 28, 2012

CRASH CLAIMS LIVES OF TWO FLAGLER TEENS
By Annie Martin, Staff Writer

DAYTONA BEACH -- Two Flagler County teenagers were killed in a crash on Interstate 95 that injured three others, two critically, and blocked traffic for hours.

Meredith Smith, an ambitious, popular Flagler Palm Coast High School student, and Lane Burnsed, a Bunnell resident, were killed.

The 10:15 p.m. Thursday wreck involved three vehicles that "all collided in the left lane," according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. But by Friday night, it was still unclear how it happened.

The crash occurred in the southbound lanes about two miles south of State Road 40, according to the FHP. Burnsed, 18, was driving a 1999 Ford F-150. Smith, 17, and Tuesday Coulter, 20, were passengers in the truck. Coulter was listed in fair condition Friday at Halifax Health Medical Center.

Two other drivers were listed in critical condition: Louis Nicholas Prinzo, 22, of Ormond Beach, and Doron Nirel Lyn, 30, of New York. Prinzo, who was driving a 1996 Ford four-door, Lyn, who was driving a 1991 Chevy Blazer, and Smith were not wearing seat belts, according to the FHP.

Doug Bell, who said he witnessed the crash, described the scene as "quite a horrific experience." Bell was driving from Raleigh, N.C., with his 9-year-old son Thursday night when he saw a vehicle -- possibly a sport utility vehicle -- about 200 feet ahead drive "straight into the left guardrail." The vehicle rolled across the highway, hitting other cars, he said. Other drivers slammed on their brakes, he said.

"If we were up there 30 seconds earlier, any one of us could be involved in that," Bell said.

After the crash, people stopped and got out of their cars.

"Everyone was just standing up looking at the accident scene," he said.

Bell watched as emergency workers draped a sheet over a body near a pickup "which didn't have a whole lot of damage." It also appeared emergency workers were searching for victims in the woods, he said, but FHP would not comment on that.

"Due to the complexity of this investigation, it is going to take time to gather all of the evidence and facts in order to insure that the information we are disseminating is accurate," Trooper Wanda Diaz wrote Friday in an email.

The cause of the wreck remains under investigation and alcohol tests are pending on all of the people involved in the crash, according to the FHP.

Bell and many others were stranded for about four hours as they waited for the road to reopen. Other drivers were rerouted at State Road 40. But that's the last thing Bell said he worried about during this "sad experience."

"I'd be pathetic if I thought of my own inconvenience," Bell said.

Burnsed's family and friends couldn't be reached for comment Friday. His father, Jamey, is a captain with Flagler County Fire Rescue, according to Fire Chief Don Petito.

Smith was the daughter of Bob Smith, public works director and city engineer for Flagler Beach, City Manager Bruce Campbell said.

She was "a model student" and cheerleader, former principal Jacob Oliva said. He was principal at Flagler Palm Coast High School until last month, when he became the district's assistant superintendent. He was also Smith's principal at Wadsworth Elementary years ago.

"She's one of those types of gals that is focused and hardworking and positive and the type of person you would want your own daughter to be," Oliva said.

Smith would have been starting her senior year at FPC but she was planning to take classes full time at Daytona State College through the dual enrollment program, Oliva said. She split her time between the high school and the college last school year.

Cheerleading coach Stacia Collier said she met with the school's varsity cheerleaders Friday morning to share memories of Meredith. Principal Lynnette Shott told staff members about Meredith's death and school counselors interrupted their time off to meet with students Friday.

Collier described Meredith as "outgoing, vivacious, and dedicated." A member of the varsity squad since her freshman year, Smith was "among the best cheerleaders I've worked with," Collier said.

Outside of classes and cheerleading, Meredith volunteered with the Junior Lifeguard program in Flagler Beach and worked as a waitress in a local restaurant, Collier said.

Staff Writer Patricio Balona contributed to this report.

THE DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL
Daytona Beach, Florida
Sunday, July 29, 2012

VIGIL PLANNED FOR TEENS KILLED IN FLAGLER CRASH
By Katie Kustura, Staff Writer

Two young Flagler women have organized a candlelight vigil tonight for their two friends killed in a recent car crash in the hopes of bringing the community together to remember the unique teens.

Meredith Smith, 17, a Flagler Palm Coast High School student, and Lane Burnsed, 18, a Bunnell resident, were killed in a three-vehicle crash Thursday night on Interstate 95 in the southbound lanes about two miles south of State Road 40, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Jessica Gendoes, 22, and Emalee Imperio, 20, of Palm Coast, planned the vigil -- which will be held tonight at 7:30 on Flagler Beach near South Fourth Street and the pier -- so the community can come together to reflect on memories of Smith and Burnsed.

"I know a lot of people that were very close to them," Gendoes said. "I just want everyone to be there for each other. Most people think it's a nightmare they haven't woken up from."

The women have asked attendees to bring their own candles, but not for the reasons you might expect.

"Lane and Meredith aren't plain and simple," Imperio said, "so we wanted everyone to have their own candle."

Imperio said she's looking forward to seeing the mix of candles people bring, though there will be a small supply of extra candles for those who don't have their own.

The women are also asking attendees to wear orange, Burnsed's favorite color, or blue, which is Smith's favorite.

Gendoes said Assistant Superintendent Jacob Oliva, former Flagler Palm Coast High School principal, reached out to her and will help provide a stage and sound system so that family and friends may share their memories.

Despite the recent tragedy, Gendoes and Imperio, with positive attitudes, remembered their friends in phone interviews Saturday.

"Lane, he always kept me smiling," Imperio said of Burnsed, who she described as a goofball with a big heart. "He'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it."

Imperio and Gendoes both remembered Smith as a sort of daredevil when it came to her passion for cheerleading.

"She was not afraid to try anything," Imperio said.

Gendoes said they will be accepting donations to help the families with funeral costs and other expenses.

Tuesday Coulter, 20, of Bunnell, who was in the Ford pickup with Burnsed and Smith, was discharged from Halifax Health Medical Center on Saturday after being treated for serious injuries.

Louis Prinzo, 22, of Ormond Beach, and Doron Nirel Lyn, 30, of New York, were both taken to Halifax Health Medical Center to be treated for critical injuries. Prinzo has since been discharged.