Two parents and their three young children were tragically killed in a fiery head-on collision with a wrong-way driver in Colorado early Monday morning.
The family of five was driving in a GMC Yukon SUV on the southbound lane of a highway shortly after 7 a.m. when the other driver switched over from the northbound lane and crashed with such force that both vehicles burst into flames, KUSA reported.
Andres Cabral-Banuelos, 2; Manuel Cabral-Banuelos, 5; Maria Cabral-Banuelos, 12; Andrea Banuelos-Salazar, 30; and Manuel Cabral-Torres, 34, died at the scene despite first responders’ best efforts to save them.
The 25-year-old driver of the Ford F-150 pickup truck that rammed into the front of their vehicle was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, according to Colorado State Police.
“The loss of an entire family is an unspeakable tragedy, and our hearts are with all who are grieving during this incredibly difficult time,” the Grand County Coroner’s Office said in a statement.
The Cabral-Banuelos family lived in Kremmling, Colorado, a small town about 100 miles outside of Denver.
“In a moment’s time, all five of them are gone. Just one person alone is tough on a lot of people, but five, it’s just so hard. Losing all five of them, all at the same time. His youngest was 2 and his oldest was 12. They had their whole life ahead of them. It’s so sad to think about,” Javier Torres-Garcia, Manuel’s cousin, told KDVR.
Their extended family posted a fundraiser to help cover the costs of transporting their bodies back home and eventually arranging a funeral.
They encouraged others to come together “just as Manuel always wanted.”
“I was really happy to hear when he would come visit us. He was the kind of guy who always tried to get family together no matter what. Even if it was a day or two, he would always make time for family. Manny was a great dude, and he’s going to be missed by a lot of people. His kids were very young,” Torres-Garcia said.
As of the beginning of July, Colorado had recorded 278 traffic deaths statewide, a significant decline from 307 recorded the year prior, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
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