Fatal Crash Inspires Donations Throughout Community

Sylvia Jaime last spoke to her son Irvin Ruiz when he called to tell her that he was on his way to a quinceanera with his friends. He then assured her that he would call when she told him “to make sure he called me later.” that Saturday night.

The phone call never came.

The 18 year-old was killed very early Sunday Morning when a car full of teenage passengers plunged off the seawall of East Beach in Galveston. The four other teenage passengers in the car were injured, including catastrophic injuries to Luis Aguirre and the driver Aaron Cebellos. The youngest in the car Alexis Wiliamson, 14 suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Irvin’s mother reported that she does not know the teens her son was with that Saturday night or the plans they had to drive to Galveston.

With this shocking loss, friends and co-workers of Ruiz came together to help raise money to defray funeral costs for Jaime (mother) . Ruiz was described as a “pretty good kid. He worked hard to take care of his family.” Ruiz was reported to have taken on two jobs to help with his family.

Irvin’s Mother, Jaime, who works at a local Jack in The Box on 21st street in Texas City doesn’t have the 10,000$ estimated to cover services and burial. The fast food chain is doing everything they can to support Jaime, and customers who wish to donate to help cover funeral cost should ask for her co-manager Araceli Flores.

Along with the fast-food chain, the funeral home and the school district has set up donation acceptance. 

Jaime has been surrounded my her family within the last few days and stated that she “feels a very large pain within.” However, she is grateful for the overwhelming support her community has given. “I am very thankful [for the community] offering help, I thank them for all they have done for me and my family.”