A Pennsylvania community is grieving the sudden and tragic death of Jacinta Stevens, a 31-year-old model, housing specialist, and devoted mother of two, who died after her vehicle slid into the ice-covered Monongahela River in Pittsburgh late last month.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Stevens was driving on the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 29, when she struck a snowbank, lost control of her vehicle, and went over a concrete barrier, sending the car into the river. The incident occurred amid winter conditions that had left roads slick and visibility reduced in parts of the city.
In a statement released on January 30, the Pittsburgh Public Safety Department said emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at approximately 4:30 p.m. First responders quickly determined that the vehicle had broken through the ice and sunk roughly 50 feet from the shoreline. Officials confirmed that no one had exited the car before it submerged.
A dive team was immediately deployed, launching a complex rescue operation that involved ice rescue, technical rope rescue, dive rescue operations, and advanced cardiac life support, authorities said. Stevens, identified initially only as an adult female patient, was located and brought to the surface in less than an hour.
Rescue personnel performed life-saving measures after determining she was in cardiac arrest. Stevens was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but died a short time later, officials confirmed.
“This incident was extremely complex,” the Pittsburgh Public Safety Department said, noting that nearly 50 responders from multiple agencies took part in the rescue effort.
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are leading the investigation into the crash. As of publication, authorities have not released additional details about the precise cause of the accident, and a PSP spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Beyond the tragic circumstances of her death, Stevens is being remembered for the life she lived — as a mother, a professional, and a prominent figure in Pennsylvania’s fashion community.
Stevens leaves behind two young children, an 11-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. A GoFundMe campaign organized by her cousin to assist with funeral costs and to support her children describes her as the emotional center of her family.
“Jacinta Stevens was our everything,” the fundraiser states. “She was a devoted mother… and the heart of our family — a daughter, granddaughter, sister, cousin, and friend whose love held us together.”
Professionally, Stevens had recently begun working as a housing specialist at the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP), where colleagues said she quickly made a lasting impression.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Michelle Sandidge, HACP’s Chief Community Affairs Officer, described Stevens as someone whose warmth and authenticity stood out immediately.
“She exuded grace and style, with model qualities, and we didn’t even know that she was a runway star,” Sandidge said. “We will miss her glow and her bright light as she made friends easily and sincerely cared for other people.”
Sandidge added that Stevens had been with the organization for only about two months but fully embraced its family-centered mission. “She had an aura about her that spoke volumes exhibiting nothing but class,” she said.
Outside her public service work, Stevens was deeply involved in the Johnstown, Pennsylvania fashion scene, where she was regarded as both a model and mentor. The official Johnstown Fashion Week Facebook page announced her death on January 30, calling her a “true icon” within the local industry.
“Jacinta was more than just a face on the runway; she was a beacon of grace and a friend to many,” the post read. Organizers praised her professionalism, passion, and commitment to uplifting other models, adding that her legacy would continue to inspire future generations.
In one of her final social media posts, shared on January 11, Stevens reflected simply: “Appreciate the little things while they last 🤍.” For many who knew her, those words now serve as a poignant reminder of a life cut tragically short.
