FHP: Woman, 26, dies in I-95 crash

Coworkers describe Ashley Michalec as genuine, kind, compassionate

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A 26-year-old woman died Monday night in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in St. Johns County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash was reported just before 10:30 p.m. on southbound I-95, just south of Race Track Road.

According to the Highway Patrol, Ashley Michalec was driving a 2008 Infiniti G35 when the car left the road and entered a grass area west of the highway. The Infiniti collided with a traffic sign support pole.

Michalec, of Jacksonville, died at the scene, troopers said. 

Her coworkers at Mona Lisa Day Spa on San Jose Boulevard made it clear Michalec touched many lives. Those employees told News4Jax that they're still coming to terms with the loss and that things just weren't the same without her Tuesday. 

Sharon Maas, one of Michalec's coworkers, talked about the moment her boss called her on the way into work Tuesday morning to tell her what happened. 

"I thought he was kidding. It was horrible. I couldn't believe it," Maas said. 

She and her coworkers did their best to get through the day, but some were too upset to be at work.

"Everyone is just shocked and surprised. It's just so tragic and so soon -- too soon," Maas said. 

At the young age of 26, Michalec had already been promoted to the director of the spa. Just a few months later, a memorial now sits in the lobby.

"We're just going to have to get past this day to day. Everybody is still pretty emotional," Maas said. "We have to get through the emotional part before we can move forward."

Maas said Michalec just had a way of connecting with just about everyone who walked through the spa's door. 

While they still have questions about why her car left the road, for now, her colleagues are focusing on the things they'll remember most.

"Her friendship. She was there for people when they needed her and she was genuinely there," Maas said. "She was a genuine, kind and compassionate young lady."

One coworker at the spa told News4Jax that a man who saw the crash happen stopped to help Michalec and was there as she passed away.

She said Michalec told the man to pass along a message to her mother, who he’s working to connect with now.