Families Mourn 'Sudden and Unimaginable Loss' After 5 Texas Women Killed in Car Crash on 23rd Birthday Trip By Liam Quinn

Donations have poured in for the families of the five young women killed in a car crash while on a birthday trip.

Thalia Salinas, Ruby Cruz, Brianna Valadez, Desiree Cervantez and Jacqueline Velazco were identified as the victims killed in a crash on July 25 in Texas, according to reports from KVUE and KTBC.

The outlets, as well as CBS News Texas, reported that Kody Lane Talley, 37, was arrested on Aug. 5. He was charged with five counts of manslaughter. It is not immediately clear if he has entered a plea.

The young women, who were on a trip to celebrate Salinas’ 23rd birthday, were killed after a pickup truck pulling a livestock trailer allegedly crossed into oncoming traffic, KTBC reported, citing authorities.

The pickup first struck a Chevy Malibu before it hit a Mercedes SUV with the five young women inside. The SUV overturned and caught fire, killing the occupants inside, according to the report.

Since the crash, GoFundMe fundraisers have been started to benefit the families of the women.

“Thalia was quiet but to those that knew her well she was the funniest person in the room, she was witty, intelligent, loyal, and the true manager of our household, always keeping us all in line,” the organizer of the GoFundMe for Salinas wrote. “If you were lucky to call her a friend, she was the best friend you had.”

Another fundraiser was also started for Ruby Cruz.

“This sudden and unimaginable loss has left our family completely devastated and many friends in mourning,” the organizer wrote. “Faced with so much pain, we turn to our family, friends, and acquaintances for support. The emotional and financial burden is immense, and any help—no matter how small—can make a huge difference.” 

Valadez’s family wrote that she was on the verge of starting nursing school prior to her death.

“We will carry Bri’s light with us always, and we will keep telling her story—because she deserves to be remembered for how brightly she lived,” her family said in a GoFundMe.

Velazco’s sister wrote in a GoFundMe that, “she was a light in our lives: loving, strong, fun, and full of grace. Her soul was truly beautiful, and to know her was to love her deeply.”

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Cervantez had worked at a law firm at the time of her death, according to her loved ones on a GoFundMe page.

“Desiree brought warmth, light, and kindness to everyone she encountered,” the organizer wrote. “Her shy, dimply smile was genuine, her heart was sincere and she had a quiet strength that made a lasting impression on so many of us. For those who knew her closely, you know how deeply she cared about all her loved ones, strangers and even animals.”

In total, the GoFundMes have combined to raise nearly $100,000.

Fox 4 reported that the funerals for the women, who had been friends since childhood, were set to be held this week.