A young man has promised to care for his mother after his sister, who was her primary caregiver, died four days after a severe car crash. Korrina Lopez, 22, was a preschool teacher in California and passed away in the hospital on July 21, following injuries sustained in a crash on Mount Baldy Road northeast of Los Angeles.
Lopez was a passenger in a vehicle with four friends traveling northbound when a southbound driver attempted to pass another car by using the dirt shoulder. According to the California Highway Patrol, the speeding driver lost control of their Toyota Tundra and collided with Lopez's car. Lopez was transported to the hospital, where she later died.
Two other passengers in Lopez's vehicle sustained major injuries, with one being paralyzed. The remaining two passengers suffered minor injuries. The crash also resulted in the death of Cole Renko, 20, a passenger in the speeding Toyota Tundra. The driver responsible for the crash sustained minor injuries.
Lopez's brother, Isaiah Lopez, 21, described his sister as "everything to me." He told KTLA that shortly before she passed, he promised her he would take care of their mother, who had recently been diagnosed with stage-four brain cancer. "Because I know everything my mom is going through, and I know she needs someone," he said.
Lopez's younger brother, Elijah Lopez, expressed his grief to KABC, stating, "I wish she was here right now." He added, "It was sad, but I'm happy for her because she's not in pain anymore and that she's with God."
Their uncle, Gabriel Caraza, told KABC that the family is seeking peace and may never find it. "Our family will never be the same without her... but we're going to hold it together and stay strong for her," he said.
Lopez was a former student and most recently a preschool aide at Alta Loma Christian School. The school shared a statement on Facebook mourning the loss of their staff member, noting that her summer aide position had developed into a full-time role.
A GoFundMe page established by a family friend to help with funeral costs and medical expenses described Lopez as a "lifelong Dodger fan, concert-frequenter, and adventure extraordinaire." The fundraiser noted her "sparkle in her eyes and a contagious laugh that lit up any space she occupied" and stated she had an "energy [that] was easy and magnetic, which explains why she was a friend to everyone."
Isaiah Lopez recalled his sister's inclusive nature: "If someone was excluded from something, she would always bring them to the table where everyone was. She never left anyone out."
The California Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into the crash, and there is currently no indication that drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision.