Funeral Mass Scheduled for 3 Siblings Killed in West Dallas Crash
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DALLAS (CBS11) - A funeral mass has been scheduled for Tuesday evening to celebrate the lives of three children killed in violent crash just down the street from their West Dallas home.
The siblings, 3-year-old Lizbeth, 6-year-old Bryan, and 11-year-old Pamela Mendoza were killed Monday evening when a speeding vehicle crashed into their family's car at the intersection of Singleton and Peoria.
A 13-year-old sibling riding in the front seat was injured; but, has since been released from the hospital.
"As soon as I passed, she was coming right behind me," recalls Donna Montez, "this black car was coming so fast… it hit her so hard."
Montez watched the fatal crash unfold from her rear view mirror—and even now feel haunted by the loss. "I don't want to talk about it—because it hurts. What happened to those babies… it's still, the image in my face."
Nevertheless, she rushed to the crumped car to see if she could help. "I couldn't take the baby out of there…so I tried to just talk to the baby. That's all could do until the fire engine came."
Saturday, Montez and dozens of others gathered at the site for a prayer vigil and balloon release to show support for the family. But, they need more than emotional support: they are struggling to pay for three funerals.
"The family needs help right now," said attorney and community activist Domingo Garcia pulling out his wallet, "I need a hat…to help pay for these funerals." A GoFundMe account has so far raised less than half of what is needed for the three funerals.
Meanwhile, community leaders insist that they must do more than mourn: they're considering a letter writing campaign to get the city's attention. Calls from CBS 11 to the area's City Councilmember
Monica Alonzo this week have not been returned.
"It's uncalled for," says Henry Martinez, acting President of the Ledbetter Neighborhood Association. "We should have had lights here years ago. Several accidents have occurred in this spot right here… it shouldn't have happened. I'm saddened. It's just terrible."
Neighbors are also asking how many more must die, before changes are made.
"Just two blocks down… my grandparents were killed," recalled Eva Martinez, "27years ago. They need to do something… we need stop lights…something… too much already."
"I wish I could have done more for the babies when I was there," says Montez. "I don't know them… but, it hurts like they were my own."
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