A devastating crash in Texas has left a three-year-old boy without his family just days before Christmas. The young child, identified by relatives as Dieguito, is now an orphan after a head-on collision caused by a wrong-way drunk driver claimed the lives of his parents and his five-year-old sister.
A Night of Celebration Turns to Tragedy
The Pena-Rodriguez family was returning home from a Christmas party in the early hours of Saturday, December 20. They were traveling on Highway 99 in Fort Bend County when their vehicle was violently struck head-on by another car driving in the wrong direction. The time was around 2 a.m.
The impact killed 27-year-old Lizbeth Rodriguez Contreras and her five-year-old daughter, Camila Pena, at the scene. First responders rushed the father, 26-year-old Diego Pena Jr., and his three-year-old son, Dieguito, to a nearby hospital. Despite medical efforts, Diego Pena Jr. later succumbed to his injuries.
Dieguito, described by his heartbroken family as a "sweet and innocent boy," survived. He remained in the hospital in critical but stable condition as of Christmas Eve, facing a long recovery that includes multiple surgeries.
Community Mourns and Rallies for Survivor
The family has been shattered by the sudden loss. In a statement on a GoFundMe page created to support Dieguito's future, relatives wrote, "In an instant, Dieguito lost the people who loved him, protected him, and were his entire world."
The message continued, highlighting the dual burden they now face: "No family should ever have to plan funerals for three loved ones while also worrying about the medical care and future of a surviving child." The community is rallying to provide emotional and financial support for the little boy's extensive needs.
Lizbeth Rodriguez Contreras was a beloved fourth-grade teacher at Metcalf Elementary School in Houston. Her daughter, Camila, attended preschool at the same school and was known as her mother's "mini-me."
Driver Arrested and Faces Severe Charges
The driver of the other vehicle, identified as 27-year-old Majesti Faith Lee, was transported from the crash site by Life Flight helicopter. She was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that alcohol was a major factor in the collision. After an investigation, Lee was arrested on Wednesday and now faces serious charges. She has been charged with intoxicated manslaughter, which has been enhanced to a first-degree felony, and one count of intoxication assault.
Lee is currently being held at the Fort Bend County Jail. Jail records show her bond has been set at $1,050,000.
Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan expressed his condolences in an official statement. "Our hearts are with the family as they endure an unimaginable loss," he said. "This tragedy is a painful reminder of how quickly lives can be changed when impaired driving occurs, and why making responsible choices behind the wheel is so critical."
The incident serves as a grim warning during the holiday season about the irreversible damage caused by driving under the influence.
