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In a devastating turn of events, 18-year-old Kadance Fredericksen, Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA, died in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer in Santa Rosa County, Florida, on Monday, February 17, 2025. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the crash occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of State Road 4 and Hurricane Lake Road.
Fredericksen's life story was one of remarkable resilience and compassion. Rising above childhood homelessness and abuse, she founded Kada's Promise in 2017, an initiative providing teddy bears and blankets to children in foster care, abuse shelters, and hospitals. "During many dark times in my early childhood, the only thing that I could call my own or that made me feel safe was a single teddy bear," Fredericksen had written on her organization's website.
Her impact extended beyond charitable work. As a senior at Baker School, Fredericksen had recently received nine college acceptances and was awarded a $40,000 scholarship just one week before her death. Her aspirations included pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Through her pageantry platform, she successfully raised $25,000 for the Ronald McDonald House, supporting families with children receiving medical treatment.
"She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters," the Miss Florida USA organization stated in their tribute. Her pageant coach, Michelle Watts, reflected on Fredericksen's enduring influence: "Even though she passed away at 18 years old, literally, her life story and her life start song still sings."
The Baker School honored her memory in a Facebook post, describing her as "a beacon of light in our community, known for her compassion, tireless advocacy for children in need, and unwavering dedication to making a difference." Her mother, Lisa, told WEAR that Kadance was "the light" of her and her husband's lives.
The accident, which also resulted in minor injuries to the 56-year-old tractor-trailer driver from Milton, remains under investigation by authorities. Fredericksen's passing has deeply affected both the pageant community and the numerous lives she touched through her humanitarian work, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to helping others in need.
