California man charged after three-vehicle red-light crash kills mother and two children

A California man is facing criminal charges after a three-vehicle collision killed a mother and her two young children in July 2026. In a press release, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said the crash occurred just before midnight on July 29 near the intersection of Yucca Loma Road and Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley.


"The preliminary investigation determined Driver 1 was traveling northbound on Apple Valley Road and failed to stop for a red traffic signal at the intersection with Yucca Loma Road. Vehicle 1 collided broadside with Vehicle 2, which was traveling eastbound on Yucca Loma Road in the number 2 lane. The impact caused Vehicle 2 to collide with Vehicle 3, which was traveling eastbound in the number 1 lane," the release said.



According to authorities, 43-year-old Hesperia resident Hendrix Arcadio Collado was driving Vehicle 1, a 2015 Dodge Caravan. Vehicle 2 was a 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan driven by a 42-year-old Victorville resident, and Vehicle 3 was a 2019 Toyota Highlander driven by a 34-year-old Apple Valley resident.


The crash claimed the lives of three Victorville residents traveling in the Tiguan: 39-year-old Theodora Wilson and two children, Felix Valenzuela, 6, and Rose Valenzuela, 7. All three died at the scene. Felix Valenzuela, 42, told KTLA that he was driving the Tiguan and was inside the vehicle with his wife and their children when the crash occurred.


"I woke up inside the car with all the airbags deployed," he said, per the outlet. "I couldn't breathe or speak. I looked over at my wife and tried waking her up, shaking her and I got no response. I tried calling out to my kids. They were flopped over and lifeless in their car seats."


Valenzuela said he and his 16-year-old daughter sustained major injuries and were taken to the hospital. He further told the outlet that Theodora, who he was married to for 22 years, was a registered nurse. "She will be missed a lot," he said. "And my two little babies. I won't get to see what they could've become. I just love them so much and I will see them again one day."


Collado was also taken to the hospital with major injuries. He has since been charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and two counts of reckless driving causing a specified injury in connection with the crash. Collado was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday, August 5, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office, and his bail was set at $250,000.


The driver of the Highlander was evaluated and treated at the scene. "This is a very tragic incident, and unfortunately, we see these far too often," San Bernardino County District Attorney Spokesperson Jacquelyn Rodriguez told PEOPLE. "Our Office has a unit funded by the Office of Traffic Safety who are specialized prosecutors in cases such as these involving vehicular manslaughter."