Four members of a Texas family were killed and one was left in critical condition when a driver who was allegedly street racing struck them Saturday night.
The Rosales family was reportedly returning home from a trip to Six Flags and dinner at Panda Express around 8:15 p.m. 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 onto its side and crash into a nearby Valero gas station, where it caught fire.
Three people in the van were pronounced dead at the scene and a fourth died from his injuries at a local hospital.
The deceased were identified as Jessie and Lorena Rosales, along with their 13-year-old daughter, Stephanie, and six-year-old 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 six-year-old 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 hit by a red Dodge Charger.
Police say the crash happened when the driver of the red Dodge Charger, Jaime Mesa, 20, was street racing with Anthony Morales, 22, in a white Dodge Charger with a black roof.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed the red Dodge Charger speeding toward the family’s SUV, and the white Charger driving slowly, according to a police affidavit.
After the crash, the white Charger was also caught on a traffic pole camera running a red light, WFAA reports.
The affidavit also states that witnesses at the scene saw the Chargers revving their engines and racing before the collision.
Jaime Mesa, 20, has been arrested for allegedly participating in street racing and causing the accident
The impact of the high-speed crash caused the SUV to overturn, witnesses said.
“I heard a very loud bang, like an explosion, and I saw the vehicle turn twice and two people were thrown out and the vehicle caught fire very quickly,” Yvette Acosta said.
“I haven’t been able to sleep because I can hear people screaming,” he said.
Ashik Maharzan, a Valero gas station employee, also said he saw “two people flying out the window” and ran to help, but the heat from the flames was too intense.
“There was an explosion, I couldn’t even get near the fire, it was so big,” he said. he told NBC DFW.
“People were screaming and crying there, and I saw the two bodies lying there.”
The flames then continued to spread to wires hanging from utility poles, leaving nearby residents without internet access.
The impact of the high-speed collision caused the SUV to crash into a gas station and catch fire.
Meanwhile, some good Samaritans were seen on video rushing to help Mesa out of his wrecked car.
Miguel Coronado said he was driving down the highway Saturday night and passed the crash site when he saw the driver of the wrecked Charger still in the driver’s seat, so he decided to stop and help.
“I was looking through the door because it was slightly open,” he said. he told Fox 4 News.
“Then I looked through him and the steering wheel was like pressed against his chest, like he could barely breathe.”
A video posted online shows Coronado trying to open the door as more people appear to help him.
Together they managed to get Mesa out.
“As soon as we got him out, the police arrived,” Coronado said. “And two minutes later the ambulance and the fire department arrived.”
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 laments. “It’s very sad. His life changed in an instant.”
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 causing death, four counts of homicide, one count of racing on a highway causing serious bodily injury and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Morales was also located on Sunday night and now faces similar charges.
But Grand Prairie police say they are still investigating the crash.
Meanwhile, Anthony Rosales is fighting for his life in the hospital and an online fundraiser It was created to help pay for your medical bills and assist with burial expenses for family members.
She notes that Anthony has two other siblings, a brother named Jessie and a sister, Natalie, who “have stepped up to help him get through this physical battle on top of all the other battles they’re going to face.”
‘This sweet group of siblings 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 accident.
At this point, Anthony’s aunt Delia said, “They’re just trying to see if he’s going to make it and I just want the best for him.”
“We can’t believe it,” he told WFAA.
Delia described her brother, Jessie, as the backbone of the family.
“We were always together, we traveled together, basically. We were all one close family.”
“They’re gone forever,” Delia continued. “And I know that (the suspects) are supposedly in custody, but they’re not going to bring them back.”
