Last Updated on January 11, 2023 by CCAR Staff
A Rancho Cucamonga family is asking for the public’s help after a young couple was involved in a fatal crash in Texas.
The family of Stephanie Vasquez – who is due in March – said the California native and her husband, Steve, were involved in a fatal crash just outside of Austin, Texas on Thursday night.
Steve Vasquez, 33, was killed in the crash while Stephanie Vasquez, 34, and the couple’s unborn daughter were transferred to a hospital in Austin, family members said.
“Stephanie has incurred several broken bones to her ribs, back and some bleeding in the brain. She and her baby have been showing good signs of improvement, but they have a long road to recovery,” said Ashley Moser, Stephanie’s younger sister, by phone on Sunday.
According to KEYETV the Vasquezes were waiting to turn onto an interstate in Kyle, Texas when a car struck another vehicle, causing it to hit the couple’s vehicle.
More than $40,000 has been raised in two days on the crowdfunding site gofundme.com/thevasquezs. Family members are hoping to raise $100,000 to help Stephanie Vasquez with medical costs. The family has also created the hashtag #praying4vasquez to follow the progress.
Moser said the Vasquezes had been married for seven years and had been trying to start a family for the past three years.
“Even before this, she was their miracle baby and now we consider her even more of a miracle baby. They just really wanted to start a family,” said a choked up Moser. “It has been a difficult pregnancy and my sister has been sick for most of it. She and her baby are doing better every day, but it’ll be a long process.”
Moser said her brother-in-law would have been a great father.
“He was so excited to start a family,” she said. “He was so great with kids; with his nieces and nephews, and he would have been a wonderful father.”
Stephanie Vasquez grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, attending Alta Loma Junior High School and Etiwanda High School, then as Stephanie Helmrich. Her family was also active at Hillside Community Church, Moser said.
About six months ago, after teaching for 11 years at Corona High School, Steve Vasquez decided to pursue a new career, she said.
“He had renovated their home in Corona, and he wanted to pursue his passion in landscaping,” Moser said.
Moser said her brother-in-law had previously lived in Texas and decided to pursue a landscaping job where he would also be responsible for the design.
“He was following his passion,” she said.
Steve Vasquez attended the University of California, Riverside where he earned a math degree and teaching credential. He went on to earn a masters degree from Concordia University.
The couple met at Corona High School where she taught English, and he taught math.
“Those who knew Steve knew he had a special aura that touched all. He had that infectious laughter that could bring down the room,” Stephanie’s mother Pam Helmrich, wrote on the crowdfunding site, GoFundme.com.
