The Barstow community is devastated after a tragic accident on May 4, when three brothers – Cole (17), Trent (15) and Sailor (10) Martinez – lost their lives along with their father, Bryce Martinez, in a brutal crash on Interstate 40.
The vehicle in which they were traveling ran off the road and overturned violently, causing the immediate death of all occupants. The impact was so severe that it took the authorities six days to identify the bodies, according to family members, who confirmed that the coroner did not authorize their release until May 10.
A mother destroyed by grief
The tragedy has hit Tamara Ortiz, mother of the deceased children, in an indescribable way. She is now facing not only the mourning for the loss of her three children, but also the difficult task of standing firm for her other two little ones: Peyton and Lynsey, the result of a subsequent relationship with her current partner.
“Tamara is a strong woman, but this has broken something in her,” relate people close to the family.
“He’s had a hard time accepting help, but now more than ever he needs it.”
Community support and assistance campaign
Family and friends have launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses, the exact amount of which has not yet been determined, given the complexity of the legal and forensic process.
The official page of the collection highlights that it is the only account approved by the mother, guaranteeing that the funds will go directly to her hands, without intermediaries.
In addition, Dignity Memorial in Barstow has reportedly offered to take donations directly, either in person or by phone, to support the costs of funeral services.
A community with a broken heart
Cole, the oldest of the three brothers, was 17 years old and about to finish high school.
Trent, 15, is described as a charismatic and supportive boy, while Sailor, the youngest at just 10 years old, was “the joy of the house”.
All three were known and loved in their school and neighborhood environment, which has generated a deep collective grief among neighbors, friends and teachers.
We still don't understand what awaits us. It's a nightmare from which we won't wake up
GoFundMe
Beyond the headline: the human impact
This accident has been much more than local news.
For hundreds of Latino families in the United States, especially in communities like Barstow, where closeness and a sense of community are strong, this tragedy resonates with special intensity.
It is the kind of blow that breaks generations, leaves deep traces and demands solidarity support beyond the immediate moment.
The story of Tamara Ortiz and her children has begun to circulate widely in social networks and local media, generating gestures of solidarity from different cities in California and other states.
This is a story that should not be repeated.
A mother now burdened with an incalculable loss needs the embrace and support of an entire community.
Every gesture, every word of encouragement and every contribution counts.
For more news, visit QueOnnda.com.
