A Texas family of five met a devastating fate in a terrible car accident during their Mother’s Day trip, despite a valiant attempt by a Good Samaritan who could only reach one person in the burning vehicle.
The family, consisting of Hermenegildo Melendez, 55, his wife Veronica Cerda, 53, and their daughters—Denise, 26; Rebecca, 20; and Daniela, 18—were sharing holiday time in their 2023 Ford F-150 as they traveled on Interstate 45 in Houston on Saturday.
Tragedy struck when their vehicle had a head-on collision with a 2016 Dodge truck, claiming the lives of all family members and leaving the driver of the other truck critically injured, as detailed in a fire department report.
‘It just, it rips my heart out because I know they deserve better,’ Jillian De Haro, a family friend of the oldest daughter, told Click 2 Houston.
‘This wasn’t supposed to happen to them,’ she added. ‘They were a really close-knit family.’
On Saturday afternoon, the Cerda family left their home in Greenspoint, climbed into their family pickup truck and set out on the road to Dallas.
Shortly after 3pm, near the 157-mile marker on I-45, a Dodge pickup traveling southbound veered off the roadway and struck a guardrail on the right side of the freeway.
The truck, driven by 42-year-old Toriano Fair of Dallas, then crossed the roadway into the center median, broke through the cable barrier and collided head-on with the Cerda family’s vehicle as they traveled northbound.
A family of five from Houston, Texas, were tragically killed in a horrific car accident on Interstate 45 on Saturday afternoon (pictured: the Cerda family)
The family was traveling together in their 2023 Ford F-150 on Interstate 45 shortly after 3pm Saturday afternoon, heading for Dallas to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend as a family
Hermenegildo Melendez, 55, his wife Veronica Cerda, 53, and their three daughters – Denise Cerda, 26, Rebecca Cerda, 20, and Daniela Cerda, 18 – were all declared dead at the scene by the Justice of the Peace
Both vehicles were engulfed in flames upon impact. Bystanders, noticing the smoke and realizing something was wrong, rushed to help while waiting for emergency crews to arrive.
Mujtaba Quadri, a Houston man driving home with his wife, was among those who spotted thick smoke while traveling northbound, prompting them to pull over.
‘There were at least seven people there, everybody actively just doing something, somebody was dictating what we should do,’ Quadri, who stopped to help alongside his wife, told KHOU 11 News.
As everyone at the scene frantically called for water, Quadri grabbed a bottle in an attempt to extinguish the flames, but tragically, it wasn’t enough.
However, despite the overwhelming circumstances, the good Samaritans managed to pull the 42-year-old driver from his Dodge truck, helping him escape the blaze.
Tragically, the family of five was not visible to the hero, who risked his own safety to jump into action.
‘The fire was raging, I wish I was able to see the other people because I was on the driver’s side, I only saw that one person,’ Quadri told KHOU.
The other driver was placed on a stretcher made of blankets and rushed to the hospital in critical condition, suffering from severe, unspecified injuries, Click 2 Houston reported.
Devastatingly, the five members of the Houston family were declared dead at the scene by the Justice of the Peace, as confirmed by the fire department.
Shortly after 3pm, near the 157-mile marker on I-45, a Dodge pickup traveling southbound veered off the roadway and struck a guardrail on the right side of the freeway
The truck, driven by 42-year-old Toriano Fair of Dallas, then crossed the roadway into the center median, broke through the cable barrier and collided head-on with the Cerda family’s vehicle as they traveled northbound
Both vehicles were engulfed in flames upon impact. Bystanders, noticing the smoke and realizing something was wrong, rushed to help while waiting for emergency crews to arrive
‘Just imagine how we are feeling, like we couldn’t save them and imagine what he’s going to have to go through knowing what happened, and it’s devastating,’ Quadri told the outlet, referring to the bystanders and the driver of the Dodge.
‘If I was in their situation, it would give me solace at least, to know that there were random strangers out there helping my family.’
De Haro, a family friend of the oldest daughter, received a call from an unknown number on Saturday but chose not to answer. It wasn’t until State Troopers arrived at her home that she realized it was them trying to reach her.
‘I kind of just froze,’ De Haro told Click 2 Houston, recalling the moment she was given the heartbreaking news.
‘All I remember saying, as soon as I hung up, my mom was like, “What’s wrong?” Cause I started crying,’ she explained. ‘I just remember saying, “Vero, Vero and her whole family passed away.”‘
‘She’s one of those best friends that your mom always wants you to have in your life,’ she added. ‘I say the friendship of a lifetime.’
Firefighters from the Centerville and Leona Volunteer Fire Departments worked together to put out the blaze and recover the victims from the scene, according to the department.
CHI St. Joseph Health EMS Medic 71, EMS 4, Air Med 12 North, Texas Highway Patrol, Leon County Sheriff’s Office and Boren To Tow and Drake’s wrecker services also assisted at the scene.
Mujtaba Quadri (pictured), a Houston man driving home with his wife, was among those who spotted thick smoke, prompting them to pull over and attempt to extinguish the flames
Quadri and other good Samaritans managed to pull the 42-year-old driver from his Dodge truck before he was placed on a stretcher made of blankets and rushed to the hospital in critical condition, suffering from severe, unspecified injuries
On Monday, a family member launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Cerda family’s funeral and memorial expenses, aiming to ‘give this beautiful family the farewell they deserve’ – raising more than $70,000 of their $90,000 goal
On Monday, a family member launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Cerda family’s funeral and memorial expenses, aiming to ‘give this beautiful family the farewell they deserve’.
‘They were a close-knit and loving family, known for their warmth, kindness and deep love for one another,’ the fundraiser read.
‘Their sudden passing has left a deep void in the hearts of everyone who knew them, and their absence will be felt forever.’
As of Thursday morning, the family had raised nearly $70,800 of their $90,000 goal.
‘In times of tragedy, even the smallest acts of kindness can bring light into darkness,’ the description read.
‘If you’re able, we humbly ask for your support – through donations, sharing this page, or simply holding this family in your thoughts and prayers,’ it added.
‘From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us during this time of unimaginable grief.’
Investigators have not yet released details about what may have caused the crash, as the Texas Department of Public Safety’s investigation remains ongoing.
