DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines family is grieving the loss of their mother. On Saturday, Des Moines Police reported a car crash at 2nd Avenue and Holcomb Avenue. Police found 47-year-old Maria Elena Rodriguez dead.
Three of her family members were in the car with her at the time of the crash. All were injured and hospitalized. One was her 45-year-old sister, and the others were her two sons, ages 7 and 10.
Those closest to Maria Elena Rodriguez share the many reasons she made the world and the Des Moines Latino community better. The days following Maria Rodriguez's death have been hard on many people. Carlos Arreola, her son-in-law, explained that it's been most difficult on her children — two of which got injured in the accident.
"The smaller one, he's with us. He was discharged on Sunday morning. The other one is out of danger. He's stable. He's still currently receiving some medications, but they were thinking about letting them out either today or tomorrow," Carlos Arreola said.
Zuli Garcia is the founder of Knock and Drop Iowa. She's committed to helping the family in any way she can.
"We took that opportunity to take enough food for 25 people because some of her family members that were in Mexico, they were able to come, they were able to fly in, to be able to give her a farewell," Zuli Garcia said.
Family and their belief in God are what Carlos says the children need, as he and his wife work to best explain to them their mother has passed on.
"Only they know what they saw at the time of the incident, but I could almost guarantee that they know, and they can't be lied to. We've spoken to him. Priests have spoken to him and told them just flat out. Do you know what happened to your mother? Your mother's not with us anymore," Arreola told Local 5.
Zuli Garcia notes that Knock and Drop Iowa is here to support the Rodriguez family for as long as they need it.
"We'll provide food until the family is back on their feet and everybody gets back to work and feels okay with what they're dealing with. I've also reached out to some friends in the mental health to be able to offer them some of those services," Garcia said.
The Rodriguez family shared that since the accident, the children don't feel comfortable in their mom's home. For now, they will live with their sister. She is asking for the community's help in fixing up the basement to turn it into a space for the kids,
To support the family, you can donate via their GoFundMe.