Miss Florida Teen USA Contestant Tragically Dies in Crash Just Moments from Home

Lifestyle
Paul Johns
February 20, 2025
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9 minutes read

Photo: Kadance Fredericksen/Instagram

Kadance Fredericksen, an 18-year-old Miss Teen USA pageant queen and celebrated humanitarian, died in a car crash in Florida on Monday, February 17, according to her family and multiple news outlets. Fredericksen, who represented Okaloosa County at the 2024 Miss Florida Teen USA pageant, was driving her vehicle when it crossed the center lane and collided with a tractor-trailer in Santa Rosa County around 1:30 p.m. local time.

The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the crash occurred at State Road 4 and Hurricane Lake Road. Authorities stated that Fredericksen’s vehicle “crossed the center lane and entered the eastbound lane” for unknown reasons, striking the tractor-trailer. The 56-year-old driver of the truck sustained minor injuries.

Fredericksen, a senior at Baker School, had recently received nine college acceptances and was planning to pursue a career as a veterinarian. Her family described her as a bright and ambitious young woman who was deeply committed to helping others.

The Miss Florida USA Instagram account paid tribute to Fredericksen, writing, “It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we share the passing of one of our beloved delegates, Kadance Fredericksen.” The post continued, “Our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul—one who was a true light in this world. She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters.”

Fredericksen’s mother, Lisa, told WEAR that her daughter was “the light” of her and her husband’s lives. Beyond her pageant achievements, Fredericksen was the founder of Kada’s Promise, a program she started in 2017 to provide teddy bears and blankets to children in foster care, homeless shelters, abuse shelters, and hospitals.

Kadance Fredericksen. Courtesy of Lisa Fredericksen

Her pageant coach, Michelle Watts, remembered Fredericksen as someone who left a lasting legacy. “Even though she passed away at 18 years old, literally, her life story and her life start song still sings,” Watts told WKRG. “She is going to have such a legacy behind her.”

Baker School, where Fredericksen was a student, also honored her memory in a Facebook post, calling her an “exceptional young woman” and a “beacon of light in our community.” The school noted her “compassion, tireless advocacy for children in need, and unwavering dedication to making a difference.”

A GoFundMe has been established to support Fredericksen’s family and continue her impactful work through Kada’s Promise. The pageant community, her school, and her loved ones are rallying to honor her memory and carry forward her mission of kindness and service.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash and urged the public to remember Fredericksen’s family and others affected by similar tragedies. “We are still in the early stages of the investigation and ask that we all take a moment for this family as well as others who have lost a loved one to a traffic crash,” they said in a statement.

Fredericksen’s untimely death has left a void in her community, but her legacy of compassion and dedication to helping others will continue to inspire those who know her.