The Florida Highway Patrol reports that a 7-year-old junior dragster racer Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez passed away Tuesday night following a racing accident at the Orlando Speed World Dragway a few days prior
According to an FHP representative, Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez died after being transported to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children on Sunday. As of Thursday evening, a GoFundMe established on her family’s behalf to pay for the funeral expenses had raised more than $24,500 of its $30,000 target.
Who is age 7 Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez as dragster racer dies in Orlando Speed World Dragway, Florida drag racing crash accident
After being hurt in a racing accident on Sunday, 7-year-old Elienisse Zoe Díaz Rodriguez was pronounced brain dead on Tuesday.
Age 7 Elienisse Zoe Díaz Rodriguez fulfilled her dream of driving her Junior Dragster race car the morning of February 2 at Orlando Speed World Dragway. The 34-year-old worker who was injured in the crash, as well as a third person, were both taken to a hospital, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.
“We are deeply heartbroken by the tragic incident that took place at OSW on Sunday,” Orlando Speed World Dragway said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Elienisse’s family, and all those affected, including our racing community. Motorsports is built on passion, but moments like these remind us of the risks that come with what we love.”
Her mother, Sharryl Rodriguez, has made a flurry of Facebook posts to memorialize Elienisse and also livestreamed a gathering of her friends.
All of us at @The_JPEmerson show extend condolences to the family and friends of Jr. Dragster Racer Elienisse Zoe Diaz (7) who passed last evening, February 4, 2025 at 10:54 PM as a result of an on track incident Saturday.
Please keep all involved in your thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/sRogdUzmtj— JP Emerson ™ Journalist/Author/Podcast (@The_JPEmerson) February 5, 2025
Diaz Rodriguez lost control of her Junior Dragster race car while racing on Sunday at approximately 11 a.m. She hit a concrete wall after striking a 34-year-old Speed World employee. According to FHP, the worker had non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Elienisse Zoe Díaz Rodriguez died on Tuesday after an accident during a race at the Orlando Speed World Dragway and her family said on a GoFundMe account that she fought for her life for two days before she was declared brain-dead at 10:54 p.m. on Tuesday after Orange County Fire Rescue received 911 reports of an accident between a car and a person at the Orlando Speed World track at 11:20 a.m. on Sunday.
According to a Facebook post, a vigil was held for Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez outside her hospital on Tuesday night. A car meet will be held in her honour on Saturday at 9 p.m. at 1400 E. Vine St. in Kissimmee, according to another post.
Tributes for Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez
Orlando Speed World Dragway put its own statement on Facebook. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Elienisse’s family, and all those affected, including our racing community,” it said. “Motorsports is built on passion, but moments like these remind us of the risks that come with what we love.”
On its Facebook page, Eastland Christian School in Orlando, where she was a first-grader, asked for prayers for her family.
💔 Orlando Mourns 7-Year-Old Girl Killed in Drag Racing Crash
Tragedy has struck Orlando as the community grieves the loss of Elienisse Zoe Díaz Rodriguez, 7, who was declared brain-dead on Tuesday following a devastating drag racing accident on Sunday.
🔹 The young girl was… pic.twitter.com/YtaHVo0QYD
— Live Updates (@LiveupdatesUS) February 7, 2025
“She was a bright light in our school community, and we are thankful for the time we had with her. Her beautiful smile will be deeply missed by all of us,” the school said in a statement.
Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez’s GoFundMe
Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez battled “for her life” for two days before being pronounced brain-dead at 10:54 p.m. on Tuesday, according to her family’s GoFundMe page.
More than $25,300 had been donated to the GoFundMe page created to assist the family with funeral expenses as of early Friday morning.