Family Mourns ‘The Happy One” Who Saved Her Children Before Dying In Fiery Crash

Arlet Cerino received the phone call Wednesday afternoon everyone dreads.

Her family called to tell her that her older sister, Karla Cerino, had burned to death after her SUV rolled over on I-10 West near Asarco. Karla was able to pass her two children to good Samaritans before she died.

“When they called me, I didn’t know what to do,” Arlet told ABC-7 Thursday morning as the family gathered at Karla’s home. “I was pulling my hair. I just wanted to get out and run to the hospital. I just wanted to see her one last time.”

Karla’s 8-year-old daughter, Priscilla Chavez, suffered third-degree burns to her face and has been transported to the Lubbock burn center where she was in critical condition Thursday morning. Cerino’s 2-year-old son, Edgar Fuentes, is exptected to be released from UMC sometime today.

Karla’s family told ABC-7 Thursday morning that Cerino was pregnant with her third child at the time of the fatal crash.

“I don’t know why this thing had to happen. I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it,” Arlet said as she was crying.

At about 3:56 p.m. Wednesday, 24-year-old Karla was driving a 2000 Ford Expedition on I-10 West when investigators believe her front left tire blew out causing Cerino to lose control of the vehicle.

The vehicle rolled onto its side, sliding across three lanes of traffic and came to a rest on the emergency lane to the right of I-10 West.

Karla could not escape the fiery wreckage because her leg was pinned, police said.

Karla was known as “the happy one” who always wanted family to get together and spend time with each other, Arlet said.

Arlet said the family would like to meet the people that helped save the children.

“They’re like angels because if they wouldn’t have helped her, (her children) probably wouldn’t be alive right now,” Arlet said. “We want to meet them because we are really thankful.”

Speed does not appear to be a factor, according to investigators.

It does not appear that Karla was wearing a seatbelt at the time of this collision, according to police officials. This is the 14th traffic fatality this year compared to 11 at this same time last year.

Information: To help family with paying for funeral arrangements, call the Cerino family at 915-502-7930.

Written for the Web by Web Producer Leonard Martinez