A young mother stood sobbing at the San Miguel and Laurel Streets intersection in Osceola County, Florida. She cried out for her mother and three small children, who had all been killed hours before.
Sabrina Hernandez and her family are grappling with the tragic loss of four members: Sabrina’s mother and her three small children, who were one, nine, and eleven years old when they died.
Since her family members died and she grappled with her grief, Hernandez has also been vocal about the change she wants to see in her community so that nothing like this ever happens to another family.
Hernandez’s children, Mylie, Marvin, and Anayari, were traveling in a car with her mother and 52-year-old father when they were hit by another speeding vehicle. Although her father survived and is in critical condition, her mother and all three of her children died.
What Happened to Hernandez’s Family?
Hernandez’s mother and father had been traveling with her three children in the car when they came to a dangerous intersection in the community with no traffic lights or visible stop signs. As they approached, a fifteen-year-old in another car sped through the intersection and into their vehicle.Fifteen minutes before the fatal accident, Hernandez spoke to her son. She shared the details of their final conversation. She said:
“My son called me and said, ‘Mommy, we’re 15 minutes away; I said, ‘OK, I’ll see you in a bit. I love you.’ And he said, ‘I love you, too.'”
When her family didn’t arrive home in the expected time, Hernandez had a gut feeling that something was seriously wrong. She tried phoning all her family members, but she couldn’t reach any of them.
Hernandez then went to the hospital and discovered what had happened to her beloved family. Her mother and son died at the scene, while her two other children died at the hospital.
Her father sustained serious injuries and has already undergone a successful operation at the hospital. However, he has not yet fully recovered, and many people’s prayers are being sent his way.
When asked what she had to say to the fifteen-year-old who caused the accident, she said she forgave him because she was Christian. She said she believes in Jesus and is finding strength in her religion.
How Is Hernandez Dealing with the Loss?
As Hernandez tries to come to terms with the fact that she will have to bury all three of her children, she has wondered whether or not her community is “worth it” enough for the intersection to become a four-way stop or have some traffic lights installed.
In the meantime, Hernandez is finding strength in God to overcome her grief. However, she is still distressed. She cried:
“They were supposed to bury me, and now I have to bury all of them!”
A candlelight memorial has been set up on the accident site, surrounded by teddy bears, balloons, and photos of the children. Community and family gathered around the spot to mourn the lost Hernandez family.
The boy who crashed into the family sustained severe injuries due to the accident, and another fifteen-year-old passenger managed to escape the ordeal with only minor injuries. The crash is still under investigation.
A GoFundMe page has now been set up in honor of Hernandez’s children and mother to help the family cover the costs of the accident and the funeral that must be held for the Hernandez family members.The crowdfunding page was set up just two days ago and has reached over $28,000 of the $50,000 target. Many people left their condolences and words of love and strength on the page.Hernandez’s husband, Mickey, took to Facebook to mourn the loss of his children, saying life would never be the same again without them there. He shared:
“God, please hold my babies tight; tell them mommy and daddy are doing just fine. I miss you guys so much!”
Mickey said he was lost for words but promised the children that he would continue to live for them even though he did not know how to go on. Later, he shared another post imploring social media users to love their children extra and ensure they knew they were appreciated and special. Rest in peace to Hernandez’s mother and children.
While Hernandez said she is taking comfort and strength in her faith during this harrowing time, another grieving mother took comfort in the fact that she could make another child’s day.