A day at a popular amusement park turned into tragedy when a family of five got into a tragic car crash after spending time at their local Six Flags. The family was driving home and became casualties of what appeared to be drag racing on an empty side street.
Four of the five people in the car were killed in the fiery car crash, leaving one family member as the sole survivor. Now, the survivor and extended family are left to move on and try to pick up the pieces of this avoidable, unthinkable tragedy.
More from CafeMom: Dad Discovers Teen Daughters Were Killed In Car Accident Using App To Track Their Location
The family was driving home from Six Flags when they turned into a side street.
Jessie Rosales, his wife Lorena Rosales, and three of their children, 17-year-old Anthony, 13-year-old Stephanie, and 6-year-old Angel, were in their Chevy Traverse in Grand Prairie, Texas. They turned onto a side street, and as they turned, a Dodge Charger slammed into their car.
Three members of the family died on the scene. Two were taken to the hospital, where a fourth died. Only one member of the family, Anthony, is still alive, but is in critical condition.
It appeared that the other car was racing on the side street.
According to WBAP, witnesses told the Grand Prairie police that they saw a red Dodge Charger racing a white Dodge Charger. The red Charger is the one that slammed into the Rosales' car, while the white Charger fled the scene.
WFAA reported that video footage from local businesses caught the crash on camera, which shows the red car driving at a high speed. Footage shows the Rosales' car bursting into flames.
Witnesses recalled how horrible the crash was.
"I just heard a real loud bang like a, like an explosion and I saw the vehicles roll twice, two people get ejected and the vehicle just caught on fire so fast," witness Yvette Acosta told WFAA. "I haven't been able to sleep because uh I hear the screams of the people."
Acosta was pumping gas at the time of the crash. "Devastating and very hurtful because a lot of people were trying to help them, and they couldn’t get close to them," Acosta said when speaking to KTVT. "I wish I could help those people. It’s an emotional and tragic event."
The suspects have been identified and charged.
Police investigators say that 20-year-old Jaime Mesa was the person driving the red Charger. Mesa is facing four counts of manslaughter, four counts of racing on a highway causing death, one count of racing on a highway causing serious bodily injury, and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is currently in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Anthony Morales, 22, is accused of driving the other Charger. He is facing four counts of racing on a highway causing death and one count of racing on a highway causing serious bodily injury.
More from CafeMom: Video Shows Toddlers Ejected From Car in the middle of Texas Highway Wearing Just Diapers
The family now has to heal from the tragedy of loss.
According to a GoFundMe set up for the family, the only reason Anthony Rosales survived the crash is because he was thrown from the vehicle during the crash. The GoFundMe will help to support Anthony and his other siblings, Jessie and Natalie, pay for his hospital bills, as well as funeral expenses, and any legal bills.
"We're just trying to see if he's gonna be able to survive and I just want the best for him," Jessie Rosales' sister Delia Rosales, told WFAA. "We cannot believe it. We're still waiting for my brother to come by. He doesn't show up."
