TEPETITAN, El Salvador (AP) — Families and friends of a Salvadoran family tragically killed in a vehicular accident in Georgia are reeling from the immense loss as they await the arrival of the bodies of their loved ones. The horrific incident occurred on Monday afternoon, claimed the lives of Maribel Ramírez, 42, her five children—Justin, Andy, Natali, Evan, and Kenia, who was three months pregnant—and her son-in-law Darwin along with her 3-year-old grandson.
According to the authorities, the family's van caught fire after a tractor-trailer collided with it, leading to a catastrophic outcome. Georgia State Patrol has arrested Kane Aaron Hammock, 33, the driver of the truck, charging him with eight counts of second-degree vehicular homicide and additional charges related to negligence.
As the news of the tragedy spread, relatives in Tepetitan are struggling to cope with their grief. Carmen Gavidia, Maribel's sister, expressed her disbelief, stating, I couldn’t believe it when they called us Monday night to tell us they had died. I still can’t believe it — it can’t be true, but it is. Maribel was the first of the siblings to migrate to the U.S., making a life there before bringing her family along.
The family’s hometown is a small community, and the impact of this tragedy is deeply felt among the residents. The grief-stricken family is not only dealing with their loss but also the logistical challenges of repatriating the bodies. Gavidia reported that El Salvador's Foreign Ministry has reached out, offering support for this often challenging process, which could cost around $100,000.
A GoFundMe created by a family friend to cover the costs of transportation and burial has garnered over $16,000 towards this goal. In the shadow of tragedy, local community members are stepping up to offer their condolences and support. Gavidia recounted how funeral homes have reached out to assist, yet uncertainty looms over how the family will afford the full costs involved.
As the mourning family looks to the future, the road ahead is fraught with emotional and financial challenges. The outpouring of help does bring some hope amidst the profound sadness the family faces.
