Father grieves loss of two sons in I-75 crash in Charlotte County

LABELLE, Fla. —

Fernando Escobedo is mourning the loss of his two young sons, 6-year-old Fernando and 5-year-old Josiah, who tragically died in a car crash on I-75.

"There’s no words that can stress, big loss like that, you know? I mean, it’s hard to explain the feeling, the grief, you know, of a loss like that. I really have no words. It’s just a devastating situation, you know?" Escobedo said.

The boys were riding in a vehicle with their mother’s partner last month when another car veered off and directly hit them, causing unimaginable loss for their families.

Family remains a source of strength for Escobedo as he mourns his sons and reflects on their lives.

"I have three girls, and I can’t imagine, you know, losing my kids and not just being there for them anymore. Like, it’s really sad. And, well, I felt that some sometimes, like. I know life is hard, but losing a kid is, like, very painful. And seeing him going through that pain, you wish you could take some of that pain," said Maria, a family member.

When asked about his advice to grieving parents, Escobedo shared his perspective.

"I don’t want to be sad. It’s tough because it’s devastating. And I’m heartbroken. But I know my kids are always watching me now from heaven. So I want to keep a smile, and I want to make them proud. I want to keep on going," he said.

The crash was so severe that the vehicle the boys were in was split in two. After laying his sons to rest, Escobedo shared a message for drivers.

"You know, so I think it’s. I mean, what can I say? Drive safe. You know, think about other people, not just you, you know, I mean, I know sometimes, like, you have the feeling of, like, 'Oh, I had to rush because I had to be there on time. But I mean, if you’re going to be there for five minutes, I’d rather be late and get home safe than rush and who knows?" Escobedo said.

Escobedo hopes drivers on I-75 remain vigilant. The crash involving the boys and their mother’s partner is still under investigation.

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