A Pennsylvania community is reeling after the sudden death of a beloved young mother and rising fashion figure who was killed in a heartbreaking winter accident.
Jacinta Stevens, 31, died after her car struck a snowbank and went over a concrete barrier, plunging into the ice-covered Monongahela River in Pittsburgh on the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 29, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
First responders were called to the scene around 4:30 p.m. Officials later said the vehicle sank through the ice roughly 50 feet from shore. After determining that no one had exited the car, emergency crews launched a complex rescue effort that included dive teams, ice rescue units, rope rescue specialists, and advanced cardiac life support.
Nearly 50 responders were involved. Less than an hour after the car entered the water, dive teams located Stevens and brought her to the surface. She was found in cardiac arrest and rushed to a hospital in critical condition, where she died a short time later.
Authorities described the rescue attempt as extraordinarily challenging, citing the dangerous icy conditions and the technical demands of the operation. State police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.
Stevens leaves behind two young children — an 11-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. A GoFundMe created by her cousin describes her as the heart of the family and a devoted mother whose sudden loss has left loved ones devastated.
Beyond her role as a mom, Stevens was making her mark professionally. She worked as a housing specialist with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and was also an active model in the Johnstown fashion scene.
In a statement, HACP Chief Community Affairs Officer Michelle Sandidge remembered Stevens as someone who “exuded grace and style” and lit up every room she entered. She said Stevens had only been with the organization for about two months but made an immediate impression with her warmth, sincerity, and infectious smile.
“She had an aura about her that spoke volumes,” Sandidge said, adding that Stevens genuinely cared for others and embodied class in everything she did.
Stevens was also celebrated by Johnstown Fashion Week, which honored her as a standout presence and a source of inspiration within the local modeling community.
“She was more than just a face on the runway,” the group wrote in a Facebook tribute. “Her grace, professionalism, and kindness lifted everyone around her. Her light will continue to shine on every runway we walk.”
In one of her final Facebook posts, shared just weeks before her death, Stevens wrote a message that now feels especially poignant: “Appreciate the little things while they last 🤍.”