A family’s trip to celebrate a college graduation in Arizona turned into unimaginable sorrow when 4-year-old twin sisters were killed in a tragic car accident.
The California Highway Patrol responded to a two vehicle crash on eastbound State Route 62 near Freda, in San Bernardino County shortly after 8 a.m. on May 22.
In the vehicle were Sergio Leon, his brother Antonio Leon, Antonio’s wife Hermina Hernandez, and the couple’s twin daughters, Nyah and Naomi.
“We had family members starting to arrive. As they were arriving, that family — Sergio, Antonio, Naya, Naomi, and Mini never showed up,” family cousin Itzia Zamarripa told FOX26.
Relatives grew concerned when the family never made it to the graduation ceremony.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said the twin girls were pronounced dead at the scene.
Zamarripa later received a call indicating the missing family may have been involved in the crash.
“This car so happened to go into, hit the back of the truck as they entered into the lane, and ended up perpendicular to my cousin,” Zamarripa said. “So my cousins had no time to react at all.”
“They t-boned that car and immediately burst it into flames,” she added.
Zamarripa said three of the five victims had been identified, and officials confirmed the car belonged to her relatives. “We’re numb. We’re just, it’s been devastating,” Zamarripa said.
The tragedy happened just days before the twins were supposed to graduate from preschool on June 3.
“The outpour of support from everybody has been great,” she said. “So many people have been affected by their, by this loss.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
