NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KTNV) — Erlinda Zacarias faced an immeasurable loss when her four children, and three other family members, were killed in a violent crash in North Las Vegas.
WATCH | Procession honors lives lost in North Las Vegas crash that killed 7 family members
She tells 13 Action News funerals for the seven family members will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Palm NW Mortuary and Cemetery. The ceremony will begin at 8 a.m., with the burial expected to happen around 11 a.m.
The burial is expected to happen around 11am. Also, I'm told attorney Brian Harris will be attending. He will allegedly be representing Erlinda in an upcoming lawsuit regarding the traffic collision in January. pic.twitter.com/MHmIVP1e0f
— John Domol (@JohnnyDomol) February 19, 2022
Zacarias lost her four children, two step-children, and her brother in a single instant. Police say a driver traveling more than 100 miles per hour slammed into their van at the intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and Commerce Street on Saturday afternoon.
“I never thought this was going to happen to me,” she told 13 Action News. “My family is gone. All of them were together.”
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Support from the community has poured in over the past week. Zacarias recently ended her GoFundMe raising money for funeral expenses after receiving $300,000 in donations.
Zacarias says President Joe Biden is expected to send an American flag from Washington, D.C. as a gift for her family. 13 Action News reached out to the White House to get more information about their plans.
She says she would love for the public to attend her family members' funerals.
There will also be an honor walk on Saturday at 4 p.m. along Cheyenne Avenue from Pecos Road to Commerce Street. Anyone wishing to support the family is welcome to attend, Zacarias said.
“It’s something I never thought was going to happen,” said Zacarias. “Beautiful what they’re doing, you know? We would never have imagined it would happen like that, but to everybody—thank you.”
She lost her brother, two stepchildren, and four genetic children almost a week ago, but she still hears their laughter in the halls.
“Playing tuba and stuff — there were so many kids,” she said. “We want to remember them the way they were.”
Remembering sometimes means leaving things as they were. Their bedrooms are reminders of all the life they brought to the household.
“We don’t want to touch nothing,” she said. “We’re just going to go and check and for me, it’s like they are here. I know they’re gone, but on my feelings, all their stuff is very important for me. So, I want to keep it like that.”
They were on their way to see her for their favorite weekend tradition when they were hit.
“Saturday and Sunday, you know we’re going to go to eat,” she said. “I know they had the best life because they were eating whatever they wanted. They were doing what they liked. And on that point, I feel OK with that.”
“I’m just very happy that everybody joined and helped,” said Ruben Ceja, a close family friend. “All races, all in general — all people. They showed their love and support and I’m happy for her.”
“’If you could say anything to that driver, what would it be?’ I would tell him God bless him, still,” said Ceja. “And he’s already being judged by Him. And let Him handle it.”
