What started as a devastating overnight crash along Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia has now become an even deeper family tragedy. A 2-year-old girl who had been fighting for her life after the violent wreck has died from her injuries, just days after both of her parents were killed in the same crash.
Fairfax County police said the deadly accident happened shortly after 12:28 a.m. on May 17 near Route 123 over Interstate 66 in Oakton, Virginia. Investigators said 30-year-old Xiomara Herrera of Falls Church was behind the wheel of a 2020 Mercedes GLA 250 traveling eastbound in the I-66 express lanes at an extremely high speed.
According to police, Herrera exited onto the ramp toward Chain Bridge Road while driving about 116 miles per hour. Authorities said the SUV failed to slow down as it approached the intersection. The vehicle then crossed over a raised median before slamming hard into a concrete barrier.
Herrera died at the scene from the impact. Her fiancé, 27-year-old Alejandro Rodriguez Castillo of Sterling, was sitting in the passenger seat. Emergency crews rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he later died from his injuries.
Their 2-year-old daughter suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash and remained hospitalized for several days. On May 21, police confirmed the little girl had died, turning the crash into a heartbreaking triple fatality that has shaken many people across the Virginia community.
An 8-year-old boy who was also inside the Mercedes survived the crash with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators said he was the only person in the SUV who was properly restrained at the time of the collision. He remains hospitalized as he continues recovering from the traumatic incident.
Detectives believe speed played a major role in the crash. Authorities are also investigating whether alcohol may have been involved. The investigation remains ongoing as loved ones continue mourning the loss of the young couple and their daughter.
In the days following the tragedy, relatives and friends launched a GoFundMe campaign to help both families cover funeral expenses and other unexpected costs. The fundraiser quickly gained support online, raising close to $30,000 as people reacted to the heartbreaking loss of an entire young family in one violent moment.
