DALTON, Ga. — The son of a Georgia couple is grieving after his parents were suddenly killed in a fiery Texas crash in what should have been a routine holiday trip for his parents.
Dalton, Georgia residents Jose Lerma, 67, and Isabel Lerma, 65, were identified by their son Jairo Lerma. The 30-year-old said it was a missed call at work that gave him the sinking feeling that something was gravely wrong.
"It was a missed call from a deputy with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office," Jairo said.
He was getting ready to give a presentation at work when the deputy on the line was asking about a Chervrolet Equinox.
"They're heading to Mexico," Jairo explained to the deputy.
He said law enforcement didn't tell him anything else, but continued to ask questions about his parents, such as their age and date of birth.
"I knew that it was not something good," he said.
So he searched for answers.
He learned through news articles that his parents were likely part of a crash Wednesday that killed eight people just outside of San Antonio. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the crash happened when a Honda - being chased at the time by sheriff's deputies - went around to pass an 18-wheeler and hit an SUV being driven by the Lermas head-on.
"It was hard because when I found the article I saw there was a vehicle in flames - and it was just really hard to see that," he said tearfully.
The car belonged to his parents.
"I felt the whole world just," he said tearfully, "I was the first person (who found out)."
Jairo said his parents were on their way to Mexico to visit his brother and his family. His parents are retired and often spend the holidays there. They spend the rest of the year in Georgia with Jairo's two other brothers and sister. Now the five siblings are working to give their parents a proper burial but are navigating obstacles and grief.
Choking back tears, Jairo explained that his parents didn't have to die the way that they did.
"Why would you be chasing someone in that high rate of speed?" he asked. "There's different ways and approach when it comes to trying to catch people, we have some much technology, but this could be avoided."
Deputies had been pursuing a suspected human smuggler. The Honda was carrying five people; the driver was identified as a 17-year-old. Troopers said several of the deceased are from Honduras.
"They can't bring my parents back," Jairo said. "This time it was my parents; next time, you don't know."
He takes comfort in his faith, something he shared with his mother. He described her as a true Christian and a woman of prayer.
"I know one day I'll see her in heaven and it's God's mercy on my dad," he said. "They left together."
Jairo flew to San Antonio less than 24 hours after the crash to navigate burial procedures with the Mexican Consulate. He said his family has to pay for three services: to prepare the bodies in the U.S., transport them to Mexico and then pay for memorial services.
So far, he hasn't made a dent in the expensive process because getting his parents back has been hard. It's left his family on standby - waiting to execute plans.
One thing is for certain.
"We're going to be taking our parents back to Mexico to give them their proper burial," he said.
Those who would like to help the Lerma family pay for services can do so using this link.
Jairo hopes that people take one lesson from his grief.
"Make sure you show your love to the people you are with because you'll never know when could be the last time you can see them," he said.
Material from KENS 5 in San Antonio was used in this report.