Wednesday's crash on HWY180 just outside of Medota took the lives of three people. One of them was 45-year-old
Maria Castorena, from Kerman. Castorena's family, including her daughter spoke with CBS47 about the tragedy.
"I'm going to miss her for the rest of my life," said Maria Herrera, Castorenas 12-year-old daughter.
"She had a big heart and her house was everybody's house, her house was always packed," said Sandra Lopez, Castorena's niece.
Accordint to the CHP a Ford Escort veered into oncoming traffic and slammed head on into a big rig. The diesel tank ruptured and caused an explosion.
The sedan belonged to Castorena, 37-year-old Felicito Escalante was driving, he too was killed. The driver of
the big rig was pinned in and died, a passenger 50-year-old Jose Perez survived. Perez was sleeping and was ejected from the big rig, he is in serious condition at CRMC.
Family members say Castorena was dedicated to raising her four sons and her daughter. "Her priority were her kids and doing a good thing for her kids," said Christina Castorena, another niece.
castorena's husband says they'd been married for 20 years and that she was loved by many.
"We'll always miss her," said Herrera.
"She was a nice and wonderful mom and I'm going to miss her," said her daughter.
The CHP is still waiting for toxicology tests to determine if Escalante, the driver of the Ford, was drunk.