A tragedy has brought a Southern California family even closer, but it's also left them with the heartbreaking task of having to explain to three children how the car crash claimed the lives of their mother and brother.
Patty Correa cradles her 6-month-old nephew, thankful he's alive. It's her two other nephews she worries about.
"Ivan, he's 2 years old," she said. "He has a broken arm and broken clavicle."
All three children were ejected from their father's SUV when he crashed off Interstate 70, about 200 miles south Of Salt Lake City. The children do not yet know their mother, Maria Gonzalez, and their 7-year-old brother, victor, died in the wreck.
"Adrian does ask for mom, and we tell them mom's at the store," Correa said. "They ask about little Victor. We tell them Victor went with mom. She'll be back. They'll be back."
Yesenia Perez says her brother, Victoriano Perez, who is still in the hospital, was driving the family SUV to a friend's house in Utah last week. Nine people were piled inside the SUV when their relative's car, following behind them, broke down.
"Since there was more people than what was supposed to be in an SUV, they were actually buckled up two to each seatbelt. But the kids, them being kids, they get tired, they were tired of their car seat as well," Perez said. "They unbuckled them up and everyone laid down."
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At that moment, Perez says a big rig drifted into the lane, causing her brother to swerve and lose control.
"He's just a mess emotionally," Correa said. "It's rough on him. That was his wife and son."
The toughest part, Perez says, will be having to explain the tragedy to the children.
"We're trying to do everything we can for my brother and his kids," Perez said.
The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help with medical expenses and burial costs. Anyone wishing to donate can do so here.
