Three Family Members Killed by Drunk Driver on Memorial Day Trip
A devastating crash in upstate New York has claimed the lives of three family members, including a 4-year-old girl, during a Memorial Day weekend road trip to Niagara Falls. Authorities confirm the tragedy unfolded on Sunday morning near Route 20A and Maxon Road in Sheldon, about 30 miles southeast of Buffalo.
The victims were part of a New Jersey family traveling west in a Kia Sedona minivan when their vehicle was violently T-boned by a pickup truck that ignored a stop sign. The driver of the pickup, 20-year-old Richard Sawicki of Lackawanna, New York, crashed into the SUV while allegedly driving under the influence.
Sadly, 4-year-old Kiara Hernandez, her mother, 32-year-old Mayelin Brito-Castro, and grandmother, 47-year-old Ondina Castro De La Cruz, died as a result of the collision. Authorities reported that De La Cruz and Brito-Castro were ejected from the vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene, while Hernandez succumbed to head injuries after emergency hospitalization.
Multiple Injuries Reported, Investigation Underway
In total, nine family members were in the minivan, which was only designed to seat seven. Officials noted concerns that not all adult passengers wore seatbelts and no car seats were used for the children involved. Six others in the van—ranging from 4 to 55 years old—suffered injuries and were transported to area hospitals. The 55-year-old man was later released, but several remain hospitalized with varied conditions.
According to Wyoming County Sheriff Gregory Rudolph, the crash’s impact is especially painful due to the involvement of children. “Anytime a child is involved—and in this case, we had five—it pulls at you,” he said. “It’s a tragedy.”
Drunk Driving Charges and Legal Action Pending
Richard Sawicki was also hospitalized following the crash but has since been released and is now facing serious charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. He remains held on a $200,000 bond and is scheduled for a court appearance on June 10.
Neighbors and community members have voiced outrage. Nelson Nunez, a neighbor to the family, said, “That guy should pay for what he did. If you drink, don’t drive.”
Emergency Responders Describe Horror at the Scene
“I have an MVA at 20A and Maxon Road…there are people laying in the roadway,” an emergency dispatcher said, reporting multiple infants and adults injured on the scene.
Local and state police continue to investigate the exact circumstances of the crash while urging drivers to avoid impaired driving, especially over busy holiday weekends when road traffic surges nationwide. This tragedy adds to national warnings about the deadly risks drunk driving poses to families traveling long distances.
What’s Next for Impacted Families and Safety Advocates?
As the New Jersey family mourns, legal proceedings will unfold quickly in western New York’s courts, seeking justice for the victims. Meanwhile, highway safety groups emphasize the critical need for seatbelt and child car seat use, particularly when vehicles exceed their intended passenger limits.
For Montana and nationwide readers, this incident underlines the fatal consequences of impaired driving — a call to stay vigilant and keep roads safe for families traveling during holiday periods.
