Crash victim kept on life support until organs donated

Eduardo Hernandez’s family has decided to keep the 22-year-old crash victim on life support until his organs can be donated.

Hernandez’s sister, Zulema Avila, said when she saw police officers outside her door around 6 a.m. on Saturday, she knew her little brother was in trouble. Their presence signified something much worse, she said, than she could’ve ever imagined.

According to Avila, police told her that Hernandez was involved in a car wreck, and urged her to join him at the Del Sol Medical Center immediately.

Avila said she grabbed some clothes and drove straight to the hospital, where she’s been faithfully stationed ever since.

“It’s hard to see your little brother like that.” Avila choked through tears, “it’s just so hard.”

Avila said she saw Hernandez Wednesday, to celebrate the birth of his two-week-old daughter.

Days later, Hernandez is on life support with no signs of brain activity, according to doctors at Del Sol Medical Center, who are working to coordinate donation of his organs.

“They still have him hooked up to machines so the appropriate recipient gets his organs, so they find the perfect match,” said Avila. “I know the machines are pumping the heart for someone else, but I’m still waiting.”

According to police, Hernandez was traveling in one of the vehicles involved in the massive wreck that shut down I-10 east near Hawkins early Saturday morning. Special traffic investigators said the seven-car pile up started after a vehicle was hit while changing lanes.

According to police, Hernandez was getting out of the vehicle in which he’d been riding when another car struck him.

His young life was cut short in a matter of moments. The suddenness of his death, punctuated by the loss of a cell phone that Avila said holds the majority of photos featuring the new dad with his baby.

“It has a lot of pictures of him with the baby so, if anyone knows where it is please give it back, because that’s all we have left.”

Avila said her niece doesn’t need a photo to show her dad was kind and caring.
“We want this little girl to know her dad wasn’t perfect but, he was a hero,” said Avila.

Donations can be sent to the Eduardo Hernandez memorial account at the First Light Bank.