A season of celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy for a family after a newlywed couple and the bride’s mother were killed in a devastating accident on Interstate 70 in Colorado, just days after the couple exchanged vows. The heartbreaking incident has left a family and community in deep mourning as they grapple with the sudden and tragic loss.
A Joyful Beginning Cut Short
Ruben Rodriguez and Juliana Rodriguez-Plata had just begun their new life together as husband and wife, celebrating their wedding on Saturday, August 10th. The couple was full of joy, having just celebrated their 1-year-old son Daniel’s birthday the day after their wedding. But on the morning of Thursday, August 15th, their joyful season was abruptly ended by a fatal crash that claimed both of their lives.
The couple, along with their young son and Juliana’s parents, were traveling on I-70 when a tragic accident unfolded. According to the Wheat Ridge Police Department, a semi-truck traveling eastbound lost control, causing its load of large pipes to spill across the highway. The massive pipes, which weighed approximately 500 pounds each, scattered across both lanes of the highway, leading to a catastrophic chain reaction.
A Family Devastated
The pipes from the semi struck the vehicle carrying Ruben, Juliana, and their family, leading to an accident that involved at least seven vehicles. Tragically, Ruben, Juliana, and Juliana’s mother, Luz Melba Martinez, lost their lives in the crash. Juliana’s father, Carlos Plata, was also in the vehicle but survived the impact, though he was left to witness the unimaginable loss of his daughter, son-in-law, and wife.
“I saw when the pipes were going, so I just closed my eyes. No reaction, I just felt the impact and I woke up out of nowhere and just saw the baby crying and everyone unconscious, not waking up,” Carlos recounted to Fox 31. “It was terrible, the accident, the image, all the blood. They were just instantly dead. Seeing my whole family, my daughter, and my wife dead.”
Carlos and Luz had traveled from Colombia to celebrate their daughter’s wedding, a joyous occasion that was meant to bring their family together. Now, Carlos is left to bear the unimaginable pain of losing both his daughter and wife within days of each other.
Community and Family in Mourning
The tragic news has left the couple’s family and friends in shock and sorrow. On a GoFundMe page set up to support the family, Janell Rodriguez expressed the overwhelming grief the family is experiencing. “Today has been one of the hardest days we have ever faced. We are heartbroken to share that Ruben Rodriguez, Juliana Rodriguez Plata, and Luz Melba Martinez were tragically taken from us in an accident,” she wrote. “Ruben and Juliana had just begun their beautiful journey together, having celebrated their wedding this past Saturday. They leave behind their precious 1-year-old son, Daniel.”
Juliana’s niece and nephew, Tony and Esli Rodriguez, shared their disbelief and sorrow with Fox 31. “It fully hasn’t hit me yet, but I just think about it and I just want to cry because he was happy, he met her, he had a kid. I’ve never seen him this happy,” Esli said.
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