A mother and two young girls were killed in a devastating accident on Mother’s Day in California, according to authorities. The tragic incident occurred on Interstate 10 in the Whitewater area involving a black Tesla Model 3 and a red Chevrolet Suburban.
“It was a traumatic scene with injuries to young people and a mother on Mother’s Day,” one official said.
Authorities in California say a Mother’s Day crash left a mother and her two daughters dead.
According to The Palm Springs Desert Sun and ABC station KESQ, the two-car crash on Interstate 10 in the Whitewater area happened at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time. Authorities say all nine occupants of the car — who they say are all members of the same family — were either completely or partially ejected, according to NBC and The CW station KTIV.
The family was on their way to the Palm Springs region for a celebration, relatives told NBC Los Angeles, the network reported.
“It was a traumatic scene with young people and a mother injured on Mother’s Day and it’s heartbreaking,” California Highway Patrol Trooper Jason Montez told reporters at the scene, according to KTIV.
According to publications, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said a black Tesla Model 3 and a red Chevrolet Suburban collided for an unknown reason, causing the Chevrolet to crash into the center divider.
According to KTIV and NBC Los Angeles, Cecilia Villalobos, 31, and two children, ages 12 and 8, were all pronounced dead at the scene.
According to NBC Los Angeles, a family member recognized the children as Villalobos’ daughters. A vigil was held in their honor on Monday.
The collision also injured six other people. According to Montez, four of the injured, ages 3, 7, 11, and 15, suffered serious injuries.
According to The Palm Springs Desert Sun, two of the critically injured youths were airlifted from the scene to a nearby medical center. An ambulance took the 15-year-old to the hospital.
The driver of the Chevrolet, a 39-year-old man, suffered only minor injuries, according to KESQ. The 41-year-old passenger also suffered minor injuries. However, the Tesla driver was not injured.
In response to PEOPLE’s request for comment, HP took a moment to respond.
According to the CHP, several people riding in the Chevrolet were not seated securely, KESQ reports. Additionally, according to Montez, the commuter train was only meant to seat eight passengers.
According to the article, Montez added, “The California Highway Patrol would like to remind you to only drive a vehicle with a seat belt/child seat for each passenger and always wear a seat belt.”
Sunday’s collision still has no confirmed cause. A probe is still being conducted.
At this difficult time, the community is united and offering support and comfort to those affected by this heartbreaking event.