Three Killed, Several Injured in Drunk Driving Crash on Memorial Day Weekend
A New Jersey family of nine was struck by a drunk driver during a Memorial Day weekend road trip to Niagara Falls, leaving three family members dead including a 4-year-old girl and several others hospitalized with injuries. The deadly crash unfolded Sunday morning in Sheldon, New York, about 30 miles southeast of Buffalo.
Authorities report that Richard Sawicki, 20, of Lackawanna, New York, ran a stop sign in his Dodge Ram pickup truck and T-boned the family’s Kia Sedona minivan traveling west on Route 20A at Maxon Road. The collision fatally injured 4-year-old Kiara Hernandez of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, along with her mother, 32-year-old Mayelin Brito-Castro, and grandmother, 47-year-old Ondina Castro De La Cruz.
Fatalities and Injuries Highlight Tragedy
Brito-Castro and De La Cruz were ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, while Hernandez was transported to a hospital but succumbed to head injuries. Six others, including two surviving 4-year-olds, children aged 10 and 14, a 26-year-old woman, and a 55-year-old man, received injuries ranging from minor to serious and were hospitalized. The 55-year-old man was later released, but all others remain under care.
Investigators revealed troubling safety violations in the family’s vehicle. The Kia Sedona, designed to seat seven, contained nine passengers, some were unbelted, and none of the three 4-year-olds were in car seats. Wyoming County Sheriff Gregory Rudolph said the involvement of so many children amplifies the heartbreak of the crash:
“Anytime a child is involved – and in this case, we had five – it pulls at you,” said Sheriff Rudolph. “It’s a tragedy.”
Drunk Driving Arrest and Pending Charges
Sawicki was taken to the hospital and later arrested on aggravated vehicular homicide, DWI, and reckless driving charges. He is currently held on a $200,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 10. Law enforcement and neighbors condemned the reckless behavior.
“That guy should pay for what he did,” said Nelson Nunez, the family’s upstairs neighbor. “If you drink, don’t drive.”
Emergency Response Described as Harrowing
Audio recordings from emergency dispatchers at the crash scene painted a grim picture, with reports of multiple people—including infants and young children—lying in the roadway. First responders requested immediate airlift support due to the severity of the injuries.
National Reminder Amid Memorial Day Travels
This fatal crash underscores ongoing dangers posed by impaired driving, especially during busy holiday weekends. The loss of an entire immediate family in a single collision reverberates nationally, reminding drivers across the United States, including in Alaska and beyond, of the critical importance of sober, attentive driving and proper child safety restraint systems.
Authorities continue to investigate and urge anyone with information to come forward. The community mourns the devastating loss as the case progresses through the courts.
