Francesca Luciana Ferrari Rojas Tijerina Martino, 23, was killed in a traffic accident on Monday, October 19, 2009, in Orlando, Florida. The other driver was at fault and was cited with violating Florida Statute 316.122 vehicle turning left.
She was wearing her Shoei RF-1000 full face helmet, Cortech Adrenaline gloves, leather jacket and Garne Black Rose boots at the time of the accident.
Francesca Martino was nearing graduation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and was already an intern at NASA while still taking classes at Embry-Riddle. She was majoring in aerospace engineering, aerospace studies, and minoring in mechanical engineering, mathematics, human factors (ergonomics) and psychology. She was posthumously awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering (aka rocket science) on Monday, May 10, 2010.