Four members of a Texas family were killed and one person was left in critical condition when a driver who was reportedly street racing collided with them Saturday night.
According to reports, the Rosales family was on their way home from a trip to Six Flags and dinner at Panda Express around 8:15 p.m. when they were struck by a red Dodge Charger traveling at a high rate of speed, according to police. according to WFAA.
The impact of the collision at the intersection of South Belt Line Road and Kingston Drive in Grand Prairie, Texas, caused the family’s Chevy Traverse to overturn and crash into a nearby Valero gas station, where the car burst into flames.
Three occupants of the SUV died at the scene, and a fourth died of his injuries at a local hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Jessie and Lorena Rosales, along with their 13-year-old daughter, Stephanie, and their six-year-old son, Angel. Their 16-year-old son, Anthony, remains in critical condition.
Jessie and Lorena Rosales, along with their 13-year-old daughter Stephanie and their six-year-old son Angel, died in a violent crash on Saturday. Their 16-year-old son Anthony (left) is also in critical condition
The family was driving a Chevy Traverse when it was struck by a red Dodge Charger
Police said the crash occurred when the driver of the red Dodge Charger, 20-year-old Jaime Mesa, was street racing 22-year-old Anthony Morales in a white Dodge Charger with a black roof.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed the red Dodge Charger crashing into the family’s SUV at a high rate of speed and the white Charger driving slowly past, a police statement said.
After the accident, the white Charger was also captured on a traffic pole camera running a red light, WFAA reports.
The statement also said that witnesses at the scene saw the Chargers revving their engines and racing before the collision.
Jaime Mesa, 20, has been arrested for allegedly street racing and causing the crash
Witnesses said the SUV rolled over due to the impact of the high-speed collision.
“I heard a very loud bang, it sounded like an explosion, and I saw the vehicles flip over twice. Two people were thrown from the vehicle and the vehicle caught fire very quickly,” said Yvette Acosta.
“I couldn’t sleep because I could hear people screaming,” she said.
Ashik Maharzan, an employee at the Valero gas station, also said he saw “two people flying out of the window” and went to help, but the heat from the flames was too intense.
“There was just an explosion; I couldn’t even get near the fire, it was just so big,” he said. told NBC DFW.
‘People were screaming and crying there, and I saw the two bodies lying there.’
The flames then spread to cables hanging from electricity pylons, leaving local residents without internet access.
The impact of the high-speed collision caused the SUV to roll into a gas station and catch fire
Meanwhile, video footage showed several good Samaritans trying to pull Mesa from his crashed car.
Miguel Coronado said he was driving down the road Saturday night and passed the accident. He noticed the driver of the crashed Charger was still in the driver’s seat, so he decided to stop and help.
“I peeked through the door because it was slightly open,” he said told Fox 4 News.
“So I looked through it, and the steering wheel was pressing down on his chest, like he could barely breathe.”
Video footage posted online shows Coronado trying to open the door, with more people eventually appearing to help him.
Together they were able to free Mesha.
“As soon as we got him out, the police showed up,” Coronado said. “And then two minutes later, the ambulance and the fire department showed up.”
Coronado said the news of his family’s deaths reminded him of his 7-month-old daughter.
“I wish I could have helped the other car,” he wailed. “It’s just so sad. Their lives changed in a flash.”
Good Samaritans found Mesa still in his wrecked Dodge Charger (pictured) and helped him out of the vehicle
Mesa is now in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He is charged with four counts of speeding on a highway causing death, four counts of manslaughter, one count of speeding on a highway causing serious bodily injury, and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Morales was also found on Sunday evening and now faces similar charges.
Grand Prairie police say they are still investigating the accident.
Meanwhile, Anthony Rosales fights for his life in the hospital, and an online fundraiser was established to help him pay his medical bills and assist with the funeral expenses of his family members.
It says Anthony has two other siblings, a brother named Jessie and a sister, Natalie, who “have helped him through this physical battle, in addition to all the other battles they will have to fight.”
“This dear group of brothers has a long, hard road ahead of them, physically, emotionally and financially.”
Anthony Rosales fights for his life in a local hospital after the crash
At this point, Anthony’s aunt Delia says they’re “just trying to see if he’s going to survive, and I just want the best for him.”
“We can’t believe it,” she told WFAA.
Delia described her brother Jessie as the backbone of the family.
“We were always together, traveling together, really. We were all a united family.”
“They’re gone and they’re gone forever,” Delia continued. “And I know [the suspects are] “They’re supposedly stuck, but they’re not going to bring them back.”