The woman who caused a suspected DUI crash that killed her and four people from Wasco was 47-year-old Maria Rodriguez of Shafter, whose truck drove directly into the path of the car driven by 40-year-old Adam Gaza on Hwy 43. Witness Vicky Cortez says she held the hand of 17-year-old Ethan Garza, the sole survivor of Sunday’s collision, and tells KGET TV she hopes someone would do that for her own children if it was needed. Her daughter, Priscilla, said there were “tons” of beer cans and bottles in the truck. Nineteen-year-old Kaleb, 14-year-old Madysyn and 11-year-old Jordan Garza also died, Ethan Garza was in critical condition at last report.

Suzanne Grant