Edgar Rodriguez,Ramiro Rodriguez Obituary, Death; – Authorities have confirmed the identities of four members of a High Desert family who tragically lost their lives in a freeway accident in Rialto last week. The community has come together to support the 5-year-old sole survivor of the incident, who is facing a challenging recovery following severe injuries that necessitated the amputation of both arms, as reported by officials and family members.
The single-vehicle accident occurred at approximately 4:45 p.m. on December 15 on the eastbound 10 Freeway, just east of Riverside Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The Toyota Camry, carrying the five individuals, veered off the road, colliding with a tree stump and subsequently igniting, as stated by officials. Several bystanders attempted to assist the victims trapped in the burning vehicle, as documented in CHP logs and video footage from the scene.
The deceased have been identified as Edgar Rodriguez, 35, Ramiro Rodriguez, 60, Maria Benitez Ramos, 62, all from Victorville, and Melinda Perez, 44, from Hesperia. They succumbed to their injuries at the scene, according to records from the San Bernardino County coroner. The only survivor, 5-year-old Nathaniel Rodriguez, is the subject of an online fundraiser aimed at supporting his family, which has raised over $34,000 as of Monday.
The victims were described as Nathaniel’s father, grandparents, and his father’s girlfriend. Nathaniel is currently hospitalized in critical condition, suffering from burns that cover approximately half of his body, along with other serious injuries, including a brain bleed and a severely fractured femur.
This week, surgeons were compelled to amputate both of the boy’s arms. He will require numerous additional surgeries and treatments. “He remains on a ventilator, heavily sedated, and will need further skin surgeries in the coming week,” the statement noted. “The reality is that he will be in the burn unit for several months and will face a lengthy recovery involving physical and occupational therapy, as well as the creation and training for bioprosthetic arms.”
