NEED TO KNOW
- A father and three of his children died in a rollover car crash in southern California on the morning of Sunday, May 4
- The family’s pickup truck darted right for unclear reasons, left the road, and overturned numerous times on a dirt shoulder, according to local outlets
- A GoFundMe to support the children’s mother and other siblings has already raised more than $33,000
A weekend highway car crash in Southern California claimed the lives of a driver and three siblings.
California Highway Patrol responded to the incident on Interstate 40 around 7:45 a.m. local time on Sunday, May 4, according to the Sheriff-Coroner’s Office.
The family was traveling in a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck that darted right for unknown reasons, left the road, and overturned numerous times on a dirt shoulder in the desert region, according to the Victorville Daily Press and CW affiliate KTLA.
The victims were identified as siblings 10-year-old Sailor Martinez, 15-year-old Trent Martinez, 16-year-old Cole Martinez and their father, 35-year-old Bryce Martinez, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office.
The sheriff-coroner’s office said that all four victims were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
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The three children were Barstow, Calif., residents while their father lived in nearby Yermo.
A California Highway Patrol’s Barstow Area Office could not immediately be reached by PEOPLE to provide additional details about the crash.
A GoFundMe to support the children’s mother, Tamara Ortiz and her surviving children Peyton and Lynsey, has already raised more than $33,000.
“This tragedy is unexpected and, as you can imagine, heartbreaking,” the organizer wrote.”Tamara is not the kind of person who receives help well, it has taken her some time to allow us all to be there for her in the time of need. If you are willing to donate, please know how much she and the rest of us truly appreciate it.”
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