A 7-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl escaped a fiery car crash that killed four people early Sunday morning on California’s Oakdale-Waterford Highway.
Officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash after 3:05 a.m. Sunday on the highway near Claribel Road, according to KCRA 3. A 2014 Dodge SUV was traveling northbound when the driver veered off the road and hit a concrete barrier, the CHP said. The vehicle caught fire, and the 7-year-old and 12-year-old managed to escape. The children were outside the vehicle, which was completely engulfed in flames, when officers arrived at the scene.
Four other people were pronounced dead as a result of the crash, KCRA 3 reported. A relative identified the individuals as Adrian Solorio, Brenda Cisneros, their five-year-old child and an infant. The relative said Solorio, Cisneros, and their children had just left a family gathering and were 10 minutes away from their home at the time of the crash. (RELATED: Police Arrest 20-Year-Old Woman For Allegedly Stuffing Newborn In Duffel Bag Then Performing In Her School’s Play)
The cause of the crash remains unclear, and an investigation is currently underway, according to the CHP.
The 7-year-old and the 12-year-old who survived the crash were both taken to the hospital following the incident, according to The Modesto Bee. The 12-year-old sustained “major burn injuries,” while the 7-year-old was described as having “moderate injuries.”
The 12-year-old underwent surgery, according to family friend Adela Servin, CBS News reported.
“We’re all shocked and very sad over the loss of this family,” Servin told the outlet.
A GoFundMe fundraiser created to help with funeral costs has generated over $8,000 as of publication.
The Daily Caller contacted the CHP but as not received a response as of publication.