LEONA, Texas – A family of five from Houston was killed during an accident while they were driving to the Dallas area for Mother’s Day.
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The Cerda Family left their Greenspoint home, loaded up in the family pickup truck.
While on the road to Dallas, another truck, driven by 43-year-old Toriano Fair of Dallas, crossed the median and hit the family head-on.
No one in the family survived the crash.
Killed in the crash were a husband and wife, and their three kids. The Texas Department of Public Safety released their identities:
- Hermenegildo Melendez, 55
- Veronica Cerda, 53
- Veronica Denise Cerda, 26
- Rebecca Cerda, 20
- Daniela Cerda, 18
“I kind of just froze,” said Jillian De Haro, a family friend of the oldest daughter, Veronica Denise.
De Haro received a call from an unknown number on Saturday, but didn’t answer. She didn’t realize it was State Troopers trying to reach her. It wasn’t until they came to her home that she got the news.
“All I remember saying, as soon as I hung up, my mom was like, ‘What’s wrong?’ Cause I started crying. I just remember saying, ‘Vero, Vero and her whole family passed away,’” De Haro said. “She’s one of those best friends that your mom always wants you to have in your life. I say the friendship of a lifetime.”
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, both vehicles caught fire.
“It’s just, it rips my heart out because I know they deserve better,“ De Haro said. ”This wasn’t supposed to happen to them. They were a really close-knit family.”
Toriano was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Investigators have not yet released what caused the crash.
