UPDATE: Two young cousins, Cynthia Garcia Morales, 24, and Jaslin Avila, 21, were tragically killed in a car crash just after shopping on Black Friday in Glendale, Arizona. The incident occurred near Arrowhead Towne Center, shocking their family and community.
According to Glendale police, dash camera footage reveals that Avila’s white GMC stopped at a yellow light on Bell Road when a silver Hyundai sped off the Loop 101 ramp, striking their vehicle. “Jaslin was driving, and she was such a safe driver,” expressed Naomi Morales, their aunt. “If she would have kept going on a yellow light instead of stopping, the car would have never hit them.”
The crash left three younger siblings and cousins in the backseat with varying degrees of injuries, amplifying the family’s grief. “We just want to find out what happened with the situation because we haven’t gotten any answers,” stated Stephen Garza, their uncle. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released details about the driver of the other vehicle.
The emotional toll is profound. “They were kids. They didn’t deserve this,” lamented Yuri Morales, Avila’s mother and Garcia Morales’ aunt. The cousins were raised like sisters, inseparable throughout their lives. “They grew up together. Since they were little, they’ve been inseparable, and now they’re gone together,” Garza added.
Just weeks away from graduating with a degree in physical therapy from Northern Arizona University, Avila was described as a “bright girl” full of life. Meanwhile, Garcia Morales was pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher, working with kindergarten students in Buckeye. “She had a future, she had a career, and she had a heart of gold,” Morales said.
Family members find solace in the idea that the girls, who were so close in life, will remain together in death. “At least they’ll be together and won’t be alone,” Garza reflected.
To assist with funeral expenses and medical bills, two fundraisers have been established, highlighting the community’s support during this heartbreaking time.
As the investigation continues, family members are left seeking answers and grappling with their loss, reminding us all of the fragility of life and the deep connections we hold dear.
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