After Viewing Xmas Lights, a Family's Double Tragedy

Texas brother and sister killed after their car is rear-ended
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 24, 2015 7:01 AM CST
After Viewing Xmas Lights, a Family's Double Tragedy
Tragedy strikes a Texas family after a fun-filled night viewing Christmas lights.   (Shutterstock)

A Texas family's ride to view a Christmas lights display ended in tragedy Monday night when their car was rear-ended, killing the two oldest kids, WFAA reports. The Haltom City mom and dad and their three children had just completed a drive-through of the Christmas lights extravaganza at Texas Motor Speedway and were on their way home "in their car singing Christmas carols," the deceased's aunt tells the station. "My sister said within seconds everything turned to chaos." That chaos came in the form of a Ford Explorer that smashed into the back of the family's car, killing 23-year-old Alexander Trejo and his 19-year-old sister, Gabrielle Estelle. The local medical examiner says the two victims, who had to be pulled from their Ford Fusion, died of blunt force trauma, per the Star-Telegram.

"We were laughing, giggling, singing Christmas songs, and then the next thing I know is I blacked out," 17-year-old Zachary, the sole surviving sibling, tells Fox 4 News. Zachary's parents were both hospitalized after the accident with injuries that were said to be non-life-threatening, per a GoFundMe page set up by the mom's co-workers. Fort Worth police are still trying to figure out what caused the Ford Explorer to plow into the family's car, WFAA reports; as of now, the driver of the SUV isn't facing any criminal charges. Meanwhile, family and friends held a tribute Wednesday night for Alexander, who had a love of music, and Gabrielle, said to be an aspiring photographer, Fox 4 News notes. The GoFundMe page has so far raised more than $9,000 for the family's hospital and funeral expenses. (More Christmas stories.)

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