THORNTON, Colo. — The driver who is accused of crashing into a vehicle at a stoplight, killing four members of the same family in late October, has died.
Police said Friday that the driver succumbed to his injuries on Nov. 7.
The crash happened on Saturday, Oct. 26 at an intersection in Thornton. The family's two surviving sons say police told them their family was rear-ended at a red light.
Thornton Police confirmed the family was sitting at a red light on Washington Street at Thornton Parkway when they were hit. Police said as they sat at the light, the driver of a Subaru approached "at a high rate of speed" and slammed into the back of their SUV. The impact, police said, caused the gas tank of the family's car to rupture and catch fire.
"It just didn't feel real. I was really just hoping it was a nightmare and not something that actually happened," 20-year-old Adam Diaz said.
Diaz could have been in the car, but said he chose to stay home while his parents and younger sisters went to the grocery store.
“I got there pretty quick, but everything was already on flames. So, there was nothing anybody could do," Diaz said.
A Chrysler van was also involved in the crash. No one in that vehicle was hurt.
Asked what the brothers need most, Adam's older brother Daniel said, "Guidance."
"It's really hard for me. I'm 22, but I'm still growing. I'm still learning. I'm still trying to make decisions on my own. It's hard," Daniel Diaz said.
Adam and Daniel both had business dreams that involved their father. While they can no longer get advice from their parents, the brothers will still heed what their mom told them earlier this year after she lost her mother, and they lost their grandmother.
"She told us to keep going. It's kind of what they would want, not to give up, no matter what," Adam Diaz said.
Adam and Daniel dreamed of buying their parents a house. Now they will have to make home for themselves.
"I'm really grateful I still have him," Daniel said, "I could not have done this by myself."
But first, they will have to manage the costs of four funerals.
The identity and cause of death of the driver will come from the Adams County Coroner's Office.
Police said portions of the case are still being investigated, but the case is considered closed and classified due to the death of the offender.