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NEED TO KNOW
- The Fort Bend County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office said that a vehicle carrying family of four was struck by another driver heading in the wrong way on Dec. 20
- Two adults and their 5-year-old child were killed in the crash, while another child , 3, was hospitalized
- The driver of the other vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and an investigation is ongoing, authorities said
Three family members were killed over the weekend and a 3-year-old child was hospitalized when their vehicle was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver, Texas authorities said.
In an update shared with PEOPLE, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office said that its deputies were dispatched to a crash incident in the 11400 block of South Highway 99 around 2 a.m. local time on Saturday, Dec. 20.
According to a preliminary investigation, a family of four from Harris County was traveling northbound on Highway 99 when their vehicle was hit by a driver going southbound in the northbound lanes.
Lizbeth Rodriguez Contreras, 27, and Camila Peña, 5, were pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office stated.
Diego Peña Jr., 26, and a 3-year-old boy were flown to a local hospital where Peña Jr., later died from his injuries. The 3-year-old remains in critical but stable condition, authorities added.
The other driver, a 28-year-old woman who has not been identified, was also airlifted to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the sheriff’s office said.
An investigation is ongoing but “alcohol may have been a factor,” the sheriff’s office said. “Charges are pending as the investigation continues.”
The victims’ relatives set up a GoFundMe on behalf of the surviving 3-year-old, identified in the fundraiser as Dieguito.
According to the fundraiser’s description, Diego and Lizbeth had left a holiday party with their two children when the crash occurred.
“Lizbeth and Diego’s world revolved around their children as was evident since their young family was inseparable,” the GoFundMe stated. “Diego recalls the moment his life changed when he found out he was going to be a father. He took naturally to being a very involved dad and took great pride in working overtime along with Lizbeth to provide for their young family.”
As for Lizbeth, she ”absolutely loved being a mother to her mini-me, Camila, and to Dieguito,” the fundraiser stated.
”She was also a beloved 4th grade teacher at Metcalf Elementary School,” loved ones wrote. ”A big perk was that Camila was also a pre-k student at the same school and they got to spend everyday together which Camila absolutely loved.”
The little girl “had a contagious smile that would make it impossible for you to have a bad day when you were with her,” the GoFundMe added. ”She loved being able to go to/from school everyday with her mom and spend time … in her classroom after school. Camila also loved being a big sister.”
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Donations will help pay for Dieguito’s hospital and medical costs as well as cover funeral and memorial expenses for his mother, father and sister.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office is again recommending that people who drink not drive or plan ahead and have a designated driver before starting their holiday festivities.