Four members of a Texas family were killed, and one was left in critical condition, when a driver who was allegedly street racing slammed into them on Saturday night.
The Rosales family was reportedly returning home from a trip to Six Flags and dinner at Panda Express at around 8.15pm, when police say they were struck by a speeding red Dodge Charger, according to WFAA.
The impact of the collision at the intersection of South Belt Line Road and Kingston Drive in Grand Prairie, Texas, forced the family’s Chevy Traverse to flip over on its side and crash into a nearby Valero gas station, where it caught fire.
Three people in the SUV were pronounced dead at the scene, and a fourth succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
The deceased have since been identified as Jessie and Lorena Rosales, along with their 13-year-old daughter, Stephanie, and their six-year-son, Angel. Their 16-year-old son Anthony remains in critical condition.
Jessie and Lorena Rosales, along with their 13-year-old daughter Stephanie and their six-year-son Angel were killed in a fiery crash on Saturday. Their 16-year-old son Anthony (left) is also in critical condition
The family was traveling in a Chevy Traverse when it was struck by a red Dodge Charger
Police say the crash occurred as the driver of the red Dodge Charger, 20-year-old Jaime Mesa, was street racing 22-year-old Anthony Morales in a white Dodge Charger with a black roof.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed the red Dodge Charger driving at a high rate of speed into the family’s SUV, and the white Charger driving by slowly, according to a police affidavit.
Following the wreck, the white Charger was also caught on a traffic pole camera running a red light, WFAA reports.
The affidavit also claims that witnesses on the scene saw the Chargers revving their engines and racing before the collision.
Jaime Mesa, 20, has been arrested for allegedly street racing and causing the crash
The impact of the high-speed crash sent the SUV rolling, witnesses said.
‘I just heard a real loud bang like, like an explosion, and I saw the vehicles roll two times and two people got ejected and the vehicle just caught on fire so fast,’ Yvette Acosta recounted.
‘I haven’t been able to sleep because I hear the screams of the people,’ she said.
Ashik Maharzan, an employee of the Valero gas station, also said he saw ‘two people flying out of the window’ and ran to help, but the heat from the flames was too intense.
‘There was just an explosion; I couldn’t even go near the fire, it was just that big,’ he told NBC DFW.
‘People were yelling and crying there, and I saw the two bodies lying there.’
The flames then continued to spread to wires hanging from utility poles – knocking out Internet access for nearby residents.
The impact of the high-speed collision sent the SUV rolling into a gas station and catching fire
Meanwhile, some good Samaritans were seen in video rushing to help get Mesa out of his wrecked car.
Miguel Coronado said he was driving down the road Saturday night and passed the crash when he saw that the driver of the wrecked Charger was still in the drivers’ seat so he decided to pull over and help.
‘I was peeking through the door because it was a little bit open,’ he told Fox 4 News.
‘So I’m peeking through it, and the steering wheel is like pressed up on his chest, like he could barely breathe.’
Video posted online shows Coronado trying to get the door open, with more people eventually showing up to help him.
Together they were able to get Mesa out.
‘As soon as we got him out, that’s when police arrived,’ Coronado said. ‘And two minutes later, the ambulance and firefighters got here.’
But Coronado said the news of the family’s death made him think of his seven-month-old daughter.
‘I wish I could have helped the other car,’ he lamented. ‘It’s just really sad. Their life changed in a snap.’
Good Samaritans found Mesa still in his wrecked Dodge Charger (pictured) and helped him out of the vehicle
Mesa is now in the hospital with non life-threatening injuries, as he faces four counts of racing on a highway and causing death, four counts of manslaughter, one count of racing on a highway and causing serious bodily injury and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Morales was also located Sunday night, and is now facing similar charges.
But Grand Prairie police say they are still investigating the crash.
In the meantime, Anthony Rosales is fighting for his life in the hospital, and an online fundraiser has been created to help pay for his medical bills and to help with the expenses of burying the family members.
It notes Anthony has two other siblings, a brother named Jessie and a sister, Natalie, who ‘have stepped up to get him through this physical battle in addition to all the other battles they will face.
‘This sweet sibling group has a long, hard road ahead of them physically, emotionally and financially.’
Anthony Rosales is fighting for his life at a local hospital following the crash
At the moment, Anthony’s aunt Delia said they are ‘just trying to see if he’s gonna be able to survive, and I just want the best for him.
‘We can’t believe it,’ she told WFAA.
Delia described her brother, Jessie, as the backbone of the family.
‘We were always together, traveling together, basically. We were all a united family.’
‘They’re gone and they’re gone forever,’ Delia continued. ‘And I know [the suspects are] in custody supposedly, but they’re not gonna bring them back.’