Three members of a family were killed over the weekend, and a 3-year-old child was hospitalized, after their vehicle was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver, Texas authorities said.
In an update shared by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a crash in the 11400 block of South Highway 99 at around 2 a.m. local time on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Investigators said a family of four from Harris County was traveling northbound on Highway 99 when their vehicle was hit by another driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.
Lizbeth Rodriguez Contreras, 27, and Camila Peña, 5, were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
Diego Peña Jr., 26, and a 3-year-old boy were airlifted to a local hospital. Peña Jr. later died from his injuries, while the child remains in critical but stable condition, officials added.
The other driver, a 28-year-old woman who has not been identified, was also flown to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
The investigation remains ongoing, but officials said “alcohol may have been a factor.” Charges are pending as the case develops.
Relatives of the victims have set up a GoFundMe on behalf of the surviving child, identified in the fundraiser as Dieguito.
According to the fundraiser, Diego and Lizbeth had just left a holiday party with their two children when the crash occurred.
“Lizbeth and Diego’s world revolved around their children as was evident since their young family was inseparable,” the fundraiser states. “Diego recalls the moment his life changed when he found out he was going to be a father. He took naturally to being a very involved dad and took great pride in working overtime along with Lizbeth to provide for their young family.”
As for Lizbeth, loved ones wrote that she “absolutely loved being a mother to her mini-me, Camila, and to Dieguito.”
They also said she was a beloved fourth-grade teacher at Metcalf Elementary School. A special bonus, they added, was that Camila attended pre-K at the same school—allowing the two to spend their days together.
The fundraiser describes Camila as a joyful child with “a contagious smile,” adding that she loved going to and from school with her mother and spending time in her mom’s classroom after school. Camila also enjoyed being a big sister, the family wrote.
Donations, the fundraiser says, will help cover Dieguito’s hospital and medical costs, along with funeral and memorial expenses for his mother, father, and sister.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office again urged people to avoid drinking and driving, and to plan ahead by choosing a designated driver during the holiday season.
