A Lake County woman is trying to change the laws regarding suspended driver's licenses after her mother and daughter were killed by a man driving without a license.

  • Lake County woman wants to change laws regarding suspended licenses
  • Ryan Painter's mother, daughter were killed in a car crash in October
  • The person driving the other vehicle was driving with a suspended license

A day before Halloween, Ryan Painter said her mother, 56-year-old Debbie Irwin, came over in the afternoon to pick up her daughter, Fallon Painter, at their house in Howey-in-the-Hills to go carve pumpkins and bake cookies.

Painter said she stayed outside to work on the house when she heard the crash that killed her daughter and her mother.

"My entire life is in that car and it’s gone in one second," Painter said.

Fallon Painter would have turned 4 years old on Monday.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said James Walker, who caused the crash, also died. Painter said she learned he was driving on a suspended license.

"I think you should have an active driver's license in order to purchase a vehicle in the state of Florida," she said. "And right now, you don't (have to)."

Painter said she's working with Rep. Bob Cortes (R-FL) and also wants a speed limit sign with a flashing light installed on County Road 455 where the crash happened.

"Mom and Fallon would want me to be happy, and I'm trying to do stuff like this to get the word out to hopefully save someone," she said.