Last Updated on October 19, 2016 by CCAR Staff
As the California Highway Patrol continued its investigation into a Saturday morning hit-and-run crash in Pomona that killed four Lake Elsinore residents, family members said the incident had left them devastated.
“This is something we don’t wish on anybody,” said family member Miguel Herrera, 42, in Spanish as his daughter Zayda, 15, translated for him outside their Lake Elsinore home.
Herrera’s 49-year-old brother Gerardo, 29-year-old nephew Luis and 21-year-old niece Noemi were among those killed in the crash. Elba Rosales, 26, who had been dating a member of the Herrera family, also died in the accident. Four other people were injured.
The incident happened after the family’s Ford Explorer was struck by a newer model, white car on Highway 60 west of Reservoir Street.
The Explorer rolled multiple times down a dirt embankment, careened across the Reservoir Street off-ramp and down another embankment before coming to a rest against a chain link fence. Most of the people in the SUV had not been wearing seat belts.
Miguel Herrera said he was extremely close to his brother, nephew and niece. They were part of a large group that would get together on weekends to watch soccer games and cook food.
“It was something we would do every weekend,” he said. “We would just get together and barbecue and spend time together.”
Herrera said his family was on pins and needles to find out whether an arrest had been made or whether the CHP had identified any suspects, but had not heard anything so far.
California Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael Maehrsaid the Highway Patrol had not received any more leads or suspect information in the incident. No one had called into report being a witness to the crash.
Though Maehr had hoped to get surveillance video from businesses near the crash site, those businesses had not yet provided it Tuesday.
“Getting the video sometimes takes the manager or the head person of the store so it is taking a little more time,” he said.
The Herrerra family released a statement Tuesday afternoon which read in part, “We would like to begin by thanking everyone for their support and understanding during this heart-wrenching time.” The statement ends by asking that the family’s privacy be respected.
Zayda Herrera said she will always remember the times she spent with her cousins and uncle.
“They will forever be missed and they will never be forgotten because they were such amazing people,” she said.
A GoFundMe page set up for the family is close to its $25,000 goal.
