A one-year-old orphan is fighting for her life in the hospital after her entire family died in a brutal New Year's Eve accident in South Los Angeles.
Just forty minutes before New Year's Day, Hanna Sofia Cortes Bernal, her mother, father and five-year-old sister were struck by a speeding driver who ran a stop sign while fleeing a hit-and-run accident.
He crashed into the family's sedan so hard that it crashed through a street sign and a fence before bursting into flames.
The dead include 49-year-old Jose Manuel Pasgagasa, 26-year-old Luisa Bernal and her five-year-old daughter Mia Pasgagasa.
Jose died at the scene of the accident as he was trapped in the vehicle. Luisa and Mia were pronounced dead in hospital later that night.
Hanna Sofia Cortes Bernal – pictured second from left in a white romper – is the only surviving member of her family of four after a horrific car accident on New Year's Eve
The only survivor of the limousine is almost two-year-old Hanna, who is still in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Ryan Moreno, an LAPD detective, said during a news conference that the toddler was initially not expected to survive, but has miraculously shown signs of recovery in the days since the crash.
The family moved from Colombia to Southern California a little over a year ago in hopes of finding a better life.
According to a GoFundMe created by one of Jose's daughters who remained in Colombia, the family crossed the border into the United States on November 13, 2022.
She says she is now trying to raise money to bring her family's bodies back to Colombia.
On Tuesday, community members held a candlelight vigil in Los Angeles, some of whom heard the crash and ran to help.
Eyewitnesses said the impact of the white SUV – a Chevy Tahoe – on the sedan sounded like an explosion.
The driver of the SUV, 22-year-old Jordan Kahari, remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to Moreno, he faces several possible murder charges and, if Hanna survives, an attempted murder charge.
Law enforcement officials are still waiting for a toxicology report but believe Kahari was driving under the influence of alcohol the night of the accident. According to police, he was fleeing a previous hit-and-run accident when he barged in and killed the family.
The impact of the Tahoe was so severe that it rammed the family's sedan through a stop sign and a fence
LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno says the suspect will likely be charged with murder
The destroyed family vehicle is being looked after by rescue workers
Scattered debris and bloodstains at the scene of the accident
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene, which was so loud neighbors thought it was an explosion
The white Chevy Tahoe that the suspect was driving after the accident
Neighbors, including Amilcar Lopez, told ABC7 that they rushed to the scene when they realized there had been a significant accident.
“When I saw the little children in bad shape and covered in blood, I couldn't hold it back anymore and just started crying,” Lopez said.
Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Donald Graham told reporters that there were four fatal accidents over the long weekend.
“We have just completed the holiday season, which should be a time of celebration and renewal for all of our communities,” he said.
“And yet over the weekend we had four (fatal accidents) where six people died due to traffic accidents in the city of Los Angeles. “Last year, almost as many people will die in traffic accidents as in violent homicide.”