Latest news with #CentervilleVolunteerFireDepartment
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Post
Family of 5 killed in horrific, head-on car crash on Mother's Day
A 'close-knit' Texas family of five was killed in a fiery car crash on a Mother's Day weekend trip — when a truck slammed head-on into their pickup truck on a busy highway. The Cerda family, including three daughters ages 18 to 26, was headed from Houston to Dallas to celebrate the holiday when a Dodge truck traveling south on Interstate 45 swerved out of its lane and struck a guardrail at around 3:15 p.m. Saturday, according to fire officials and witnesses. The driver burst through a median and collided with the family's Ford F-150 as they headed north — causing both trucks to erupt into flames, according to the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department. Advertisement Veronica Cerda, 53, her husband Hermenegildo Melendez, 55, along with their daughters Denise Cerda, 26, Rebecca Cerda, 20, and Daniela Cerda, 18, died at the scene of the horrific wreck, fire officials said. All five members of the Cerda family died in the horrific crash. GoFundMe 'It just, it rips my heart out because I know they deserve better,' family friend Jillian De Haro told Click 2 Houston. Advertisement 'This wasn't supposed to happen to them,' she said. 'They were a really close-knit family.' As a plume of smoke rose from the crash site, a crowd of drivers rushed to help them. 'The fire was raging,' Mujtaba Quadri, who pulled over with his wife, told KHOU 11 News. 'There were at least seven people there, everybody actively just doing something, somebody was dictating what we should do,' he said. Advertisement The driver of a Dodge truck slammed into the family's truck on Interstate 45 near Houston. Centerville Volunteer Fire Department / Facebook Some of the good Samaritans pulled the driver of the Dodge, Toriano Fair, 42, of Dallas, from his burning truck — but weren't able to save the family, he told the station. 'Just imagine how we are feeling, like we couldn't save them,'Quadri said. 'Imagine what [Fair] is going to have to go through knowing what happened, and it's devastating.' Fair was hospitalized in critical condition, officials said. Advertisement De Haro, a friend of the oldest daughter, Denise, called the circumstances of her death heartbreaking. 'She's one of those best friends that your mom always wants you to have in your life,' she said. 'I say the friendship of a lifetime.' A relative of the family has since launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for their funerals and memorial expenses. 'They were a close-knit and loving family, known for their warmth, kindness and deep love for one another,' the fundraising page declared. 'Their sudden passing has left a deep void in the hearts of everyone who knew them, and their absence will be felt forever.' The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Texas Family of 5 Killed in Head-On Crash: 'Their Absence Will Be Felt Forever'
Hermenegildo Cerda, 55, Veronica Cerda, 53, Veronica Denise Cerda, 26, Rebecca Cerda, 20, and Daniela Cerda, 18, were all killed in a deadly car crash on Saturday, May 10 Their pickup truck collided head-on with a pickup truck driven by Toriano Fair, 43 Fair survived the crash and sustained serious injuriesA family of five was killed and one person was critically injured in a head-on crash on Interstate 45 in Houston on Saturday, May 10, according to the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department. Hermenegildo Cerda, 55, was driving a 2023 Ford F-150, with his wife, Veronica Cerda, 53, and their daughters Veronica Denise Cerda, 26; Rebecca Cerda, 20; and Daniela Cerda, 18, as passengers. Their truck collided head-on with a 2016 Dodge pickup truck, killing all five passengers, according to the fire department's press release. The Dodge was driven by Toriano Fair, 43, who survived the crash but sustained serious injuries and was taken to St. Joseph Regional Hospital in Bryan, Texas. Firefighters responded to the scene at 3:17 p.m. local time, reporting a major vehicle accident near Leona, Texas, the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department said in its release. The Dodge pickup truck was traveling southbound on I-45 when it went off the roadway and struck a guardrail to its right. The vehicle crossed the cable barrier and the I-45, running into the center median before striking the northbound Ford, KHOU 11 reported, citing the Texas Department of Public Safety. Upon emergency personnel's arrival, both vehicles were engulfed in flames. Centerville Volunteer Fire Department and Leona Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire while also recovering the victims from the blaze. Multiple agencies arrived at the scene, including Leon County Sheriff's Office and Texas Highway Patrol — the latter of which is investigating the incident, per the outlet. "There were at least seven people there, everybody actively just doing something, somebody was dictating what we should do," Mujtaba Quadri, a bystander, told KHOU 11. "The fire was raging, I wish I was able to see the other people [in the truck] because I was on the driver's side, I only saw that one person," Quadri said. He added that he and other bystanders pulled Fair from the wreck and placed him on a stretcher made of blankets. "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 said. "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." On Monday, May 12, a family member created a GoFundMe page to raise money for the family's funeral expenses. 'Their lives were heartbreakingly cut short in a devastating car accident that claimed the entire family,' the page description read. 'They were a close-knit and loving family, known for their warmth, kindness, and deep love for one another. Their sudden passing has left a deep void in the hearts of everyone who knew them, and their absence will be felt forever.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Representatives for the Texas Highway Patrol and the Leon County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information on Wednesday. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Five killed in Centerville fiery head on crash
Centerville, Tx (FOX44) – Five people were killed and one critically injured in a Saturday head on collision on I-45 near Centerville in Leon County. The Centerville Volunteer Fire Department reported being dispatched to a crash near the 157 mile marker at 3:17 p.m. Saturday. The first unit on scene reported two vehicles on fire in the northbound lanes. Five people were pronounced dead at the scene. Centerville volunteers were assisted by personnel from the Leona Volunteer Fire Department in putting out the fires and recovering the victims. Department of Public Safety Troopers and Leon County Deputies were also on scene. Five victims were pronounced dead at the scene and one other was transported to a hospital. Department of Public Safety Sergeant Justin Ruiz said the crash occurred on I-45 near FM 977. Sgt Ruiz said the preliminary crash investigation indicates on May 10, 2025, at approximately 3:17 p.m., a 2016 Dodge pickup was traveling southbound went off the roadway to the right struck a guard rail, went across the roadway into the center median, vaulted over the cable barrier, and struck a 2023 Ford F-150 traveling northbound head-on. Both vehicles caught fire. The driver of the Ford, Hermenegildo Melendez, 55, of Houston, was pronounced deceased on the scene by Leon County Justice of the Peace Jeff Carr. The passengers, Veronica Cerda, 53, of Houston; Veronica Denise Cerda, 26, of Houston; Rebecca Cerda, 20, of Houston; and Daniela Cerda, 18, of Houston, were pronounced deceased on the scene by Leon County Justice of the Peace Jeff Carr. The driver of the Dodge, Toriano Fair, 43, of Dallas, was transported to CHI St. Joseph Regional Hospital – Bryan with suspected serious injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
