Two hardworking moms returning from scoping out beach spots ahead of their kids’ summer vacation were killed when the driver lost control of the car they were in and hit a tree.
The vehicle — driven by Cesar Hernandez, 36, the husband of Blanca Montiel, 37, who was riding in the backseat with Myra Martinez, 37 — burst into flames on impact on Fourth Ave. at Shore Road Drive, just off the Belt Parkway and near Leif Ericson Park in Bay Ridge, around 7:45 a.m. Sunday.
The three died in the crash.
Only Armando Baez, 37, the husband of Martinez, survived. He refused medical treatment at the scene.
“It was two couples, all family, looking for a nice place to take their kids during summer vacation,” said Margarita Dominguez, 53, an aunt of the couples.
On Monday, their families processed the tragedy and prepared for funeral arrangements.
Martinez’s oldest daughter Luz Torres, 17, said that her mother came to the U.S. from Mexico and worked setting up new restaurants.
“She was part of a restaurant start-up team,” the teen told the Us.Mistertruth. “She built herself up from nothing.”
Montiel, Torres’ aunt, also worked in restaurants.
“My aunt is also very loving, a very hardworking person,” she said. “All they did was work hard and take care of their families.”
The 13-year-old daughter of Montiel and Hernandez has been left an orphan.
“She’s doing terribly,” Torres said. “But she’s safe here with our family.”
The couples were coming home from the beach excurison when the car crashed.
“They found a nice one, it was almost a little private cove out in Rockaway Beach,” Torres said. “But this is a tragedy.”