The unborn child lost after a fiery crash in Hyattsville, Maryland, Sunday evening was due this week, a relative told News4.
Last Sunday, Freddy Rodriguez was driving family and neighbors to their church, Iglesia Ministerio de Dios Unido, like he does every Sunday, his sister-in-law Arely Vasquez told News4. His pregnant wife, Marta, and their children, 9-year-old Freddy Jr. and 6-year-old Deanna, were with him when a pickup truck struck their van, killing three people in the van and the driver of the pickup truck.
Freddy Rodriguez suffered a badly burned arm and broken leg, Vasquez said. Freddy Jr. has been released from the hospital with a broken arm and is asking for his parents. Arely Vasquez told the little boy that his parents are working on getting better.
Deanna remained in a coma for nearly a week, and is now awake. Marta Rodriguez suffered two broken arms and lost her baby, a boy she planned to name Isaias.
When Vasquez heard about the crash, she never imagined the gravity of the situation. She rushed to the hospital to be with her family.
The family's faith is strong, Vasquez said, but the moment she had dreaded most was when Marta Rodriguez learned of the baby's death. Although she was not in a coma, Marta didn't learn the news for several days.
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Vasquez said Friday morning that Marta is now aware of what happened, and is struggling with the loss.
A site was set up to raise money for Isaias' funeral.
Santiago Merche, 75, and Elba Linares, 73, of Northwest Washington, were killed in the crash in the 2600 block of Chillum Road. Staily Gomez, 6, of Northwest Washington, also died, police said.
Fourteen other people were injured.
Police identified the driver of the pickup as 30-year-old Medardo Flores of Chillum, Maryland.
The investigation shows the pickup truck hit a car in the westbound lanes of Chillum Road, police said. Flores fled the scene but lost control moments later, crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and slammed into the church van. The truck then burst into flames -- trapping, injuring and killing passengers.
Children's National Health System still has four children injured in the crash. One is in critical condition and three are in fair condition.
The Washington Hospital Center is caring for seven patients from the crash. The hospital discharged one patient.
