‘We will never be the same’: Sacramento family identified in Sierra crash that killed 4
A Sacramento County family was on its way to a Thanksgiving vacation at the Grand Canyon early Saturday when their car was struck head-on by another vehicle heading the wrong way on Interstate 80 near Yuba Gap.
The parents and two of their children were killed in the crash. Their youngest child, a boy, was seriously injured but survived, according to their family.
Antonio Montano and Brittney Montano, both 29 from North Highlands, died in the crash, along with a 9-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, said Andrew Trygg, a spokesman for the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. He said on Monday the Sheriff’s Office was withholding the names of the girl and the boy.
A toddler also was in the Honda Civic with his family. That child survived the crash and was taken to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno for medical treatment, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Anthony Gonzalez, Brittney Montano’s brother, created a Gofundme online fundraiser to help the family with funeral costs for the Montanos. He said the couple’s eldest children, Marianna and Antonio, were killed in the crash. The Montanos’ youngest, Julian, was the only survivor of the crash and was expected to make a “full recovery.”
“We will never be the same after this and our family is trying desperately to stay strong for Julian,” Gonzalez wrote on the Gofundme page. “We have to bury four loved ones that were taken from us way too soon, so Julian has a place to visit his mom, dad, and siblings.”
Sgt. Steve Casetta said the CHP received reports at 4:43 a.m. about a wrong-way driver on eastbound I-80 in the area of Yuba Gap. He said the three-vehicle crash involving the wrong-way driver occurred at 4:47 a.m.
A Jeep driving against oncoming traffic crashed head-on into the Civic with the family inside, according to the CHP. The Jeep’s driver suffered major injuries and also was taken to Renown. CHP investigators suspect the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Officers were sent to the hospital to question him.
A third vehicle was hit in the aftermath of the head-on collision. The man driving that vehicle suffered moderate injuries in the crash and also was taken to Renown for medical treatment, said Officer Jason Lyman of the CHP’s Gold Run office.
On Monday morning, Lyman said the suspected wrong-way driver remained hospitalized, and there was no new information on whether the driver will be arrested. He said the fatal crash was still under investigation.
Crystal Cantu, the Montanos’ next door neighbor, placed a bouquet of flowers and electronic candles on the family’s driveway, where they held birthday parties and other family gatherings. She said the couple rented an inflatable bounce-house for their kids just a few weeks ago when they hosted a birthday party.
“They were just so happy and friendly,” Cantu told The Bee on Monday afternoon. She said the Montanos’ children “were bubbly, always laughing, playing out here on their bikes and their skateboards.”
She was shocked to learn Monday morning that they had lost their lives in the crash over the weekend and only their youngest child had survived.
“It was devastating, they were so young. I can’t imagine what their family is going through,” Cantu said. “Drinking and driving; there’s just no consideration for human life.”
This story was originally published November 22, 2021 at 11:26 AM.
