UPDATE: Two young cousins, Cynthia Garcia Morales, 24, and Jaslin Avila, 21, tragically lost their lives in a devastating car crash in Glendale, Arizona after a Black Friday shopping trip. The incident occurred near Arrowhead Towne Center on November 24, 2023, leaving their family in shock and mourning.
Witnesses reported that Avila’s white GMC came to a halt at a yellow light on Bell Road just moments before a silver Hyundai sped off the Loop 101 ramp and collided with their vehicle. Dash camera footage confirms the sequence of events leading to this tragic crash, which has left three younger siblings and cousins in the backseat with various injuries.
“This was an accident that should not have happened,” said Yuri Morales, Avila’s mother and Garcia Morales’ aunt. “They were kids. They were not women. They were our babies.” Family members express their anguish as they seek answers from authorities, who have not yet released information about the other driver involved.
According to police reports, the investigation remains active, and families are desperate for clarity. “We just want to find out what happened,” said Stephen Garza, the girls’ uncle. “We haven’t gotten any answers.”
Garcia Morales and Avila were not just cousins; they were raised like sisters, inseparable since childhood. “They grew up together. Now they’re gone together,” Garza lamented. Avila was set to graduate in two weeks with a degree in physical therapy from Northern Arizona University, while Garcia Morales was pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher, working with kindergarten students in Buckeye.
As the family grapples with this unfathomable loss, they find solace in the belief that the girls will remain together in spirit. “At least they’ll be together and won’t be alone,” Garza noted, sharing a glimmer of comfort amid the heartache.
Two fundraisers have been initiated to assist with funeral expenses and medical bills for the surviving passengers. Community support is crucial as the family copes with a profound sense of loss and seeks to honor the memories of Cynthia and Jaslin.
This heart-wrenching incident serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the impact of sudden tragedy. As the investigation unfolds, families and friends are left to remember the vibrant lives of two young women taken too soon.
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