May Ridge Crash Claims Second Victim
GOODLETTSVILLE TENNESEE: (Smokey Barn News) – Smokey Barn News has just learned that a second person involved in the mid-May deadly two-car crash at the bottom of the ridge has died.
The two-vehicle rollover crash sent an entire family of nine to area hospitals with critical injuries. According to Metro Nashville Police, the Barrera family’s vehicle was struck by another vehicle sending the Barrera’s vehicle into a deadly roll. The driver of the vehicle that struck the Barrera vehicle is still at large.
The crash occurred on the night of Friday, May 19 on Springfield Highway (Hwy 41) at Baker Station Road, the first call coming into 911 at 10:38 pm. MAP Madison Precinct officers responded.
Though the entire family was transported to area hospitals, two of the occupants were transported to Skyline Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. One of them, 13-year-old Gabriel Barrera Jr, died from injuries he sustained in the crash less than a week later. MORE Now we are learning that 22-year-old Santos Sontay has died.
“Santos’s passing is truly a hard reality to accept for all,” said Joshua Hinerman who was close with Santos and drove him and his team to their soccer games all the years Santos played for Springfield High School. “His smile was bigger than life itself and his happy deposition permeated into the lives of all who called him a friend. Although his passing is hard, it is his faith in the Lord that gives me the greatest comfort for I know that he now resides in a heavenly mansion filled with joy and where he is free from all pain. He belongs to the God who gave him life and I’m reminded that God’s way is best and I should not murmur and that truly it is well with my soul. The entire community will continue to envelop the family with unconditional love and support.”
According to Hinerman, Santos passed at Skyline Medical Center in Nashville around 11:30 am Thursday morning from injuries he sustained in the crash.
Mechanics of crash:
According to Metro Nashville’s preliminary investigation, a Toyota Highlander, with Gabriel Barrera behind the wheel with a total of 9 on board, was traveling south on Springfield Highway. At that same time, a Nissan Murano was traveling on Baker Station Road. According to a witness, the driver of the Murano allegedly ran the stop sign and struck the Toyota.
According to Metro Police, the impact sent the Toyota into a roll, ejecting multiple occupants. The vehicle ultimately landed upside down on its roof.
A witness reported that the driver of the Murano allegedly exited the vehicle and fled the scene. He is still at large.
Hwy 41 was closed for several hours while Nashville’s Crash Investigation Unit investigated the crash.
The Murano was towed from the scene. Investigators are pursuing leads regarding the hit-and-run driver.
The ages and names of the other occupants of the Toyota Highlander (all from Springfield Tennessee) are, the driver, 43-year-old Gabriel Barrera, 21-year-old Alma Barrera, 37-year-old Efrain Sontay, 41-year-old Margarita Sontay, 10-year-old-male, and two 9-year-old girls.
Smokey Barn News is following this story. If more information becomes available, we will bring it to you.
A Go-Fund-Me has been set up for Santos – CLICK HERE
TOP PHOTO: Dustin Briley
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