After driver fled deadly crash into pond, surviving child tried to save woman, two children, police
Chilton County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management Agency officials search for victims
By Adam Ganucheau | aganucheau@al.com
Chilton County, AL
The man driving the vehicle in an early Christmas morning crash that killed a mother and two of her children in Chilton County is being charged with manslaughter.
Mother, two children killed in Chilton Co. after car entered pond
Three people were killed early Christmas morning in Chilton County after their vehicle entered a pond.
Three people – Maria Rocha-Gomez, 40, and two of her children, Mariana Rocha-Gomez, 5, and Mariela Rocha-Gomez, 7 – were killed after the vehicle, driven by Alberto Cruz, 33, left the roadway and entered a pond.
After the accident, Cruz exited the crash, fled the scene and was later captured in Clanton by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. He has been charged with three counts of manslaughter and is being held in the Chilton County Jail. A preliminary investigation by ALEA shows alcohol may have been a factor.
"This is truly a tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family." Aaron Ellison
Another child occupant in the vehicle survived the crash and attempted to render aid to the other occupants. The mother and two of the children were pronounced dead at the scene.
None of the occupants were wearing seatbelts, and none of the children were in car seats.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Sgt. Steve Jarrett said the accident, involving just the family's 2005 Nissan Altima, occurred at the intersection of County Road 54 and County Road 73 in Chilton County. The scene is about four miles south of Montevallo.
"This is truly a tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family," Chilton County Coroner Aaron Ellison said Friday.