Girl Dies From Accident Injuries One Week After Father, Brother

CHARLOTTE, NC -- A head-on crash cause by a Volkswagen swerving into the path of a tractor trailer truck that killed a 32-year-old man and his 14-year-old son has, one week later, claimed the life of an 11 year-old girl riding in the car’s backseat.

Jaleyah Cordova died July 6 at Carolinas Medical Center due to the injuries she suffered in the crash, police said. Her father, Ignacio Cordova, was driving the Volkswagen Jetta that, according to witnesses, was responsible for the June 29 crash along Steele Creek Road that also claimed the life of Jaleyah’s 14-year-old brother, who was riding in the front seat with their father.

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Volkswagen driven by Cordova suddenly swerved into the oncoming lane of the tractor trailer before hitting it near the intersection of Steele Creek Road and Westinghouse Commons Drive.

“Witnesses stated the Volkswagen Jetta was passing other vehicles prior to the crash,” on a section of road not marked for passing in either direction, CMPD said in a statement.

CMPD is investigating whether the Volkswagen was speeding at the time of the accident. They have already determined that Larry Patrick, the 62-year-old driver of the truck, was not speeding.

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