Mother of crash victims: 'I need my husband and son here'

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A woman whose three sons were killed in a car accident last weekend said Wednesday she's unsure she can handle burying them alone.

Rosa Petra Abundiz, 43, who remains hospitalized for the injuries she suffered in the head-on collision, said the most important men in her life are now all dead or incarcerated.

Three of her sons -- Roman, 24, Raul, 15, and Fernando, 11 -- died after their Jeep Wrangler crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a Ford Expedition towing a boat Sunday on U.S Highway 12, near milepost 176, between the "Y" and Rimrock Lake.

In January, her husband was detained by immigration authorities and is now in a Texas facility.

Another son was imprisoned in Seattle last November on a drug-related conviction. And in 2002, another son was beaten to death in Mason County in what authorities called a probable drug dispute.

"If I could walk, if I wasn't so badly injured, maybe I'd be able to handle making the funeral arrangements," said Rosa Abundiz, whose legs were broken in the crash. "I need my husband and my son here."

She spoke Wednesday from her bed at Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center while cousins and friends visited.

Washington State Patrol officials said Roman Abundiz, who was driving the Jeep, caused the crash when he crossed into oncoming traffic to avoid either slow or stopped vehicles ahead of him.

"Not only is that a no-passing zone, but there was an oncoming car at the time," said Lt. Jim Keightley, who expressed his sympathy for the mother. "It ended up being a very horrible tragedy ... Regardless of whose fault it is, she lost three sons and that is something I hope none of us have to go through."

The crash remains under investigation and a toxicology report is expected within a couple of weeks, he added.

There were six occupants in each vehicle.

Four of the Expedition's occupants were treated and released from area hospitals within a few days of the crash, officials said. The other two were uninjured.

Of the Jeep's other occupants, one was treated and released from Regional, and the other, Rogelio Benavidez Ramirez, 21, remained in satisfactory condition there Wednesday, officials said.

Cousins from Phoenix flew in on Tuesday to console Abundiz, who owns a hair salon in Yakima. They say they haven't yet made funeral arrangements, but are hoping to get special permission to allow Abundiz's husband and remaining son to attend.

"We hope people can be generous and help reunite the family in this difficult time," said her cousin, Manuel Tellez.

An account at KeyBank has been set up for donations toward funeral expenses. Call 509-575-6701 for more information.

* Melissa Sánchez can be reached at 509-577-7675 or msanchez@yakimaherald.com