A joyful 6-year-old girl and a 90-year-old man were killed in a devastating car crash on Staten Island, NY Friday morning, leaving families and neighbors reeling from the sudden tragedy.
According to the New York City Police Department, the crash happened just before 10 a.m. when a 50-year-old man driving an Audi Q5 was heading westbound on Rockland Avenue and attempted to make a left turn onto Forest Hills Road. During the turn, the Audi collided with a Honda HR-V driven by a 70-year-old woman.
Emergency responders rushed three people from the Honda to Staten Island University Hospital’s North Campus: 6-year-old Anheli Vasquez-Trinidad, 90-year-old Gerardo Avila, and the unidentified 70-year-old driver.
Police said Anheli later died Sunday after succumbing to her injuries. Avila was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after the crash. The driver remains in critical but stable condition. Authorities have not said how the three victims were related.
Anheli’s family described her as a bright, loving child whose presence lit up every room.
“Anheli was only 6 years old, yet she carried a light big enough to warm every heart around her,” a statement on a GoFundMe page created to help cover funeral expenses reads. “She was tender, joyful, playful, and so deeply loved.”
The family added that her death has left an unbearable void.
“Losing her has broken us in ways we never imagined. There is an emptiness in our home, in our arms, and in our lives that can never be filled,” the statement continued. “We were not prepared for this unimaginable pain, nor for the financial burden of giving Anheli the beautiful, dignified farewell she deserves.”
The fundraiser has raised more than $13,600 to help pay for funeral arrangements and a memorial, described as a final act of love for the young girl.
The Audi driver was also taken to the hospital and was listed in stable condition. Police said the investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
Hope they get the truth