When Olga Valentin learned the baby growing inside her had Down syndrome, she cried and cried.
Soon, though, the 27-year-old came to regard little Nevaeh Pierce, born Oct. 1, as a blessing.
"She felt that God gave her this baby for a reason," said Valentin's sister, Sheila Mendez.
Early Monday, as Valentin drove across Hillsborough County to show off 6-month-old Nevaeh to a friend, she lost control of her car.
It flipped several times on State Road 60, near U.S. 301, threw her from it and landed atop her. Valentin died.
The baby was left with only scratches. Nevaeh had been buckled into a child safety seat in the back, authorities said — but Valentin had neglected to wear her own seat belt.
The infant is now with her father's sister in Mulberry.
That's because the father, 39-year-old Vidall Pierce, who is registered sex offender, is in the Pinellas County Jail facing charges of violating his probation on previous drug and bad check counts.
He called Valentin's family on Tuesday to say he hopes to care for the baby when he gets out of jail, Mendez said.
