SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Gray News) – A 5-year-old California boy is fighting for his life in the hospital after he was pulled from the wreckage of a fiery crash that killed four people, including his father and his grandparents.
Nathaniel Rodriguez, 5, remains hospitalized in the burn unit at the UC Irvine Medical Center after a Dec. 15 car crash that killed the boy’s father, his father’s girlfriend and his grandparents, according to a GoFundMe set up for the family.
“You never think this can happen to you until it happens,” Nathaniel’s mother, Adriana Shrem, told KABC.
Shrem has been staying by her son’s side in the hospital as he fights for his life. Nathaniel was riding in a car with his family the day after his 5th birthday, KNBC reports, when the car veered off the road, hit a tree stump and burst into flames near San Bernardino.
Nathaniel was the sole survivor and had to be pulled from the wreckage by firefighters. He suffered burns to 50% of his body, and his arms were so badly burned that both of them had to be amputated below the elbow, according to GoFundMe.
“That was very heartbreaking, to know my child was awake while he was pretty much burning, his whole face, his hands,” Shrem told KNBC.
The 5-year-old also broke both his legs in the crash and remains heavily sedated on a ventilator. He has had multiple surgeries already and will likely need even more.
“He needs a specialist for the head, the eyes, the lips, and his condition just remains the same: critical,” Shrem told KABC. “It’s day by day. Every day he comes back out of surgery, it’s a blessing. That’s all I could wish for.”
Nathaniel is facing a very long recovery, including months in the burn unit, physical therapy and receiving and learning to use prosthetic arms, according to GoFundMe. Nearly $55,000 had been raised to help the 5-year-old and his mother, as of Tuesday night.
“(Don’t) take life for granted,” Shrem told KABC. “Love those around you. If you have any animosity toward anyone… just be happy. Life is too short, and you never know what can happen in the blink of an eye.”
The cause of the crash has yet to be determined.
According to the Victorville Daily Press, the San Bernardino County coroner’s records identified the victims as 35-year-old Edgar Rodriguez, 60-year-old Ramiro Rodriguez, 62-year-old Maria Benitez Ramos and 44-year-old Melinda Perez.
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