CLOVIS, Calif. (FOX26) — Tears and tributes filled a Clovis nail salon, on Tuesday, April 7, as community members gathered to remember a mother and son who were killed in a hit-and-run crash in Fresno on Monday, April 6.
Tears and tributes filled a Clovis nail salon, on Tuesday, April 7, as family, friends and co-workers gathered to remember 41-year-old Martha Hernandez and her 9-year-old son, Adrian, who were killed in a hit-and-run crash in Fresno on Monday, April 6 (FOX26).{ }
Flowers were piled at what had been 41-year-old Martha Hernandez’s nail salon station as the room packed with people sharing stories about Hernandez, known to those close to her as “Patty,” and her 9-year-old son, Adrian.
Flowers were piled at what had been Hernandez’s nail salon station as the room packed with people sharing stories about Hernandez, known to those close to her as “Patty,” and her son (PHOTOJOURNALIST CHASE GAUTHIER).{ }
“I want to say I love her,” a co-worker said. “I want to say that she rests in peace with her son.”
The crash that killed Hernandez and her son was caused by a driver running a red light, according to Fresno Police.
The collision forced Hernandez’s car into a canal and the driver of the other car ran away.
Hernandez’s body was pulled from her submerged car.
The crash that killed Hernandez and her son was caused by a driver running a red light, according to Fresno Police (PHOTO: RUDY GONZALEZ).{ }
Hours later, Adrian’s body was found almost three miles down the canal.
Distance between the two scenes (Courtesy: Google Maps)
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Adrian’s teacher remembered a classroom project that reflected the bond between mother and son.
“My fondest memory of him is doing an art project and it is a dream door and what was inside his dream door was him and his mom and saying that was his dream, just to always be with his mom,” the teacher said.
Authorities said the driver who fled later surrendered and was identified as 22-year-old Timothy Seth Chavez.
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“I think that’s the first right step that’s been made,” Kelsey Caldwell, another co-worker, said. “I get when mistakes happen that we’re filled with being scared and don’t know what to do but that’s the first step in making up for fleeing the scene.”
Chavez now faces multiple counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run.
He is also charged with driving on a suspended license and driving without insurance.
Hernandez’s 17-year-old son, Adrian’s older brother, was embraced by family and friends during the gathering.
“She loved her boys, that was all she talked about her boys,” a nail client of Hernandez’s said.
The group later went outside to pray and light candles in honor of Hernandez and Adrian.
“I looked up to her as a mom,” Caldwell said. “She was above and beyond for those boys all the time. That is her world.”
A GoFundMe has been set up for the Hernandez family, to learn more click HERE.