MENIFEE, CA – A catastrophic multi-vehicle collision claimed the lives of a mother, her three daughters, and two others during their return journey to Southern California from Texas. The accident, which occurred on July 12 on Interstate 10 outside Quartzsite, Arizona, resulted in profound grief for the family and community of Menifee, where the victims resided.
Arizona’s Department of Public Safety revealed that the family’s car was rear-ended by a utility truck hauling asphalt as traffic slowed due to a repaving project, triggering a five-vehicle accident. The mother, her three daughters, aged 12, 11, and 8, and two others died in the collision.
The children’s aunt, Kasandra Tunchez, fondly rehashed the jubilant personalities that the sisters embraced. She depicted 12-year-old Olivia as the sassy teen who loved being a diva, Emalynn, 11, as the avid learner, and 8-year-old Giana as a firecracker who stated her views unabashedly.
The sisters also shared a common passion for softball, a sport that admirers remember them for. The Menifee Girls Softball League penned a tribute on social media for the Perez family, underlining the extraordinary energy the girls exuded on the field.
Tributes were also expressed for the girls’ mother, Karly, her close friend Heather Ventura, and her son, Lucas Tejada, who were also casualties in the fatal crash. Nick Ventura, Heather’s brother, mourned the untimely demise of the loved ones and conveyed the deep sadness shared by the affected kin.
Emphasizing that the victims were invariably a close-knit family unit, the bereaved aunt recounted her fondest memories of the young girls. She expressed her sorrow at their untimely departure, leaving the family with just memories to hold on to.
A community ceremony was conducted on Wednesday at Centennial Park in Menifee in remembrance of the tragic event.