Pregnant Medford Woman Killed on Vacation Won Trip Through Church

– Allison Goldsberry

A pregnant Medford woman killed in a freak accident while on vacation in Florida on Sunday won the trip through her church.

Alana DeMella and her husband Michael won the trip in a contest sponsored by a Woburn church, Genesis. The couple was one of two couples who won the “I do vacation giveaway” to attend the Real Marriage Conference in Fort Lauderdale, according to the Genesis website.

DeMella, who was seven months pregnant, was killed when a car crashed into the poolside cabana she was inside with her husband.

“It’s a tragic accident, it’s sad,” said David Gordon, a tourist from the United Kingdom, according to a report on Channel 5. “There was no braking, no screeching of tires, just a big explosion.”

According to Channel 5 News, Fort Lauderdale police identified the driver as Rosa Rivera Kim, 34, of Plantation, Fla., and said “for unknown reasons, (Kim) lost control of her vehicle,” crashing into the hotel cabana.

Genesis is holding a special event Wednesday night for the community to mourn her loss. DeMella, a Medford resident, was a teaching assistant at the Peirce School in Arlington.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to Mike and both the Masterson and DeMella families. This is such a devastating loss for all who knew and loved Alanna. She touched the lives of so many and will be greatly missed. We are thankful that Alanna knew and trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior and that she and her precious child have entered into eternity and are in the arms of their Heavenly Father,” said a statement on the Genesis site.