A mother from California shared the heartbreaking moment she discovered her two children had died in a car accident when police inquired about her son’s braces.

Adrianna Cardenas, 25, and her 18-year-old brother, Adam Cardenas, lost their lives in a tragic head-on collision with a wrong-way driver last Friday.

The siblings were on their way to collect their cousin from UC Santa Barbara, traveling in a Tesla Model Y, when their vehicle was struck by a Cadillac, as reported by authorities.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) recounted to the Victorville Daily Press that the Cadillac’s driver inexplicably swerved into the westbound lane of SR-18, directly into the Tesla’s path, resulting in a head-on collision.

“The impact caused both vehicles to burst into flames,” the CHP stated.

Maria Cardenas rushed to the accident scene upon hearing the news, only to be met with police questions aimed at verifying the identities of her children.

‘They were like, “Tell me about the kids,” and I’m trying to describe my daughter. And I’m just like, “She just got a haircut, and she has glasses,”‘ Cardenas told KABC through tears.

‘And they said, “Tell me about the boy,” and I said, “He has glasses, too,” and then they asked me if he had braces, and I said, “Yes, he still has braces.”

Adrianna Cardenas (right), 25, and her 18-year-old brother, Adam Cardenas, were killed in a fiery head-on collision on Friday

Their mother, Maria Cardenas (right), rushed to the scene when she learned about the crash, and police began asking her questions to confirm her children’s identities

‘My baby still had braces,’ she added. ‘Just sick to my stomach, you know?’

The Cadillac driver, who has not been identified, was also killed in the crash. CHP is still investigating the incident and is awaiting toxicology results on the Cadillac driver.

‘It’s just so tragic to lose both my children, because somebody might have been in a rush or late,’ said Cardenas. 

‘I don’t know what was on this person’s mind, or what rush this early in the morning. But I know my daughter is a good driver, and she had no time to react.’ 

The grieving mother described Adrianna as a responsible young woman who loved caring for her younger brother. 

‘We always wanted our kids to do better. That was our only daughter, and she took on the “mom” responsibilities. I’m her mom, but literally she [was] our mom, and very helpful,’ she said.

A GoFundMe has been created to support Cardenas, her husband and their son Alex.

‘With heavy hearts, we share the loss of our beloved children, Adrianna and Adam, who were taken from us in a tragic car accident through no fault of their own,’ the fundraiser said.

Cardenas with her three children, from left, Alex, Adam and Adrianna 

Cardenas said police asked her to confirm if her son had braces when she learned they had died in the crash

The siblings are survived by their mother (second from right), father (center) and Alex (right)

‘Our family is doing everything we can to honor their lives and lay them to rest with the love and dignity they deserve.’

Family member Barbara Gonzales-Whittington told VVNG that Adrianna and Adam had an incredible bond. 

‘From the moment they entered our lives, they brought love, laughter, and light to everyone around them,’ she said.

‘They shared a bond that was rare and beautiful – nearly inseparable – and their closeness was something that could be felt by all who knew them.’

She added, ‘Adrianna and Adam were both explorers at heart, filled with curiosity and a deep passion for discovering new places and experiences. 

‘They embraced life with joy and enthusiasm, always eager to learn, grow, and create memories together.’

A funeral for the brother and sister has been scheduled for February 3.