Father and Three Children Tragically Die near Newberry Springs – Details

The mother of the three children has spoken out. She is heartbroken but grateful for the prayers and love, and has shared how people can help.

A tragic crash on the 40 Freeway near Newberry Springs on May 4 resulted in the deaths of a father and his three children. The incident occurred at 7:45 a.m. on the westbound side of the freeway, west of Hector Road, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The victims were traveling in a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by 35-year-old Bryce Martinez from Yermo. Along with him were two boys and a girl. They have been identified as Bryce's 10-year-old daughter, Sailor Martinez, along with his sons, 15-year-old Trent Martinez and 16-year-old Cole Martinez.

All three children were Barstow residents. The four tragically succumbed to their injuries at the scene of the crash. Officials said the driver allowed the vehicle to veer to the right for reasons still under investigation. The truck left the paved roadway, entered the dirt shoulder, and overturned multiple times.

The cause and circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, though CHP officials have confirmed that intoxicated driving was not believed to be a factor.

CHP Lt. Adam Carmichall expressed his condolences after the devastating deaths, "We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life and extend our deepest sympathies to the families affected."

He continued, "The California Highway Patrol urges all motorists to travel safely by ensuring your vehicle is in good mechanical condition, always wearing seat belts, carrying food and water in case of delays and never driving while impaired, fatigued, or distracted."

Bryce, Sailor, Trent, and Cole are survived by Tamara Ortiz. Tamara, the mother of the three children, is devastated by this loss and shared a statement on Facebook.

"This has taken me a lot of time to process the news of my beautiful babies passing. I don't have the right words to say how thankful I am for all the prayers, calls, texts and people stopping by to check on me. It means the world to us. The outpouring of love and support has been a blessing in this dark time in our lives," she penned.

Tamara also provided a GoFundMe link for those who wished to help. Michael Garcia, Tamara's partner since 2015, organized the campaign to help the family cope with the tragedy.

At the time of publication, the fundraiser had collected $41,131 of its $45,000 goal. He noted that this was the only account approved by Tamara, with all proceeds going directly to her.

Michael also shared that direct donations could be made to Dignity Memorial in Barstow, which had kindly agreed to accept contributions in person or by phone to help cover funeral expenses. In addition to grieving the loss of the three children, the family was also supporting Peyton and Lynsey, Tamara and Michael's two other children.

Michael shared that Tamara had taken time to accept help from others but deeply appreciated the generosity and support extended to them during this challenging period.

Condolences have also poured in from those who knew the family. Bear Creek Retreat, where the victims were regulars, shared a tribute, "On this Mother's Day, our hearts are heavy as we extend our deepest condolences to Tamara Ortiz, Mike Garcia and their entire family for the unimaginable loss of three of their beloved children on May 4th."

The establishment added, "They have been such great repeat guests of the BCR, and we are grateful for the beautiful memories they have made during their stays, including just two weeks prior to this tragedy. 💔."

As Tamara and Michael's community mourns and prepares to lay to rest a father and three children, another tragedy recently shook social media. The Ordone family and the TikTok community were left devastated by the death of Preston Ordone, affectionately known online as "Okay Baby."

On April 24, 2025, Louisiana State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 12 in St. Tammany Parish. The victims were identified as Jaelan and Katelynn Ordone and their two-year-old son, Preston.

All three sustained severe injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. A preliminary investigation determined that they were traveling eastbound on I-12 in a 2011 Ford F-150 when the truck veered off the roadway and struck a tree for reasons still under investigation.

Police also said Jaelan and Katelynn were properly restrained at the time of the accident, but their son was "improperly restrained" in his child safety seat. The couple had been hospitalized.

Following the crash, friends of Katelynn and her family released a video update via Katelynn's social media accounts. They shared that Preston's older sister, Paisley, was at school when the accident occurred.

Regarding Jaelan and Katelynn's recovery, they revealed that Katelynn suffered multiple broken bones and a severe concussion. On the day they recorded the update, they said she walked for the first time since the accident.

They also shared that Jaelan underwent emergency surgery on one of his legs and that he and Katelynn were at different hospitals. Fans of Preston and his family reached out to send prayers and offer further support.

In light of this and mounting medical bills, the Ordone family started a GoFundMe. The fundraiser description begins with a brief recount of the accident, before confirming, "Tragically, their 2-year-old son, Preston Ordone—affectionately known as the 'Okay Baby' on TikTok—was in the back seat. Preston suffered critical injuries and later passed away at the hospital."

They set a goal of raising $50,000 and, as of this writing, raised $39,326. Katelynn and Jaelan were in Lakeview Hospital, recovering.

During a visit to the medical facility, Glen Norris, Preston's grandfather, spoke with Nola.com by phone. He disputed some of the details in the report released by the State Police.

Although the report states that Preston was improperly restrained in his seat, Glen claimed he was, in fact, properly secured. He shared that the family had been returning home from a doctor's appointment when the incident occurred.

Glen said he spoke to a witness who was driving behind the truck when it crashed and removed Preston from the vehicle. The witness reportedly confirmed that Preston was properly restrained.

Glen said the boy's passing left him numb. However, the police report still angered him, and he felt it was "hurtful and painful." Nola.com also spoke with Trooper Marc Gremillion, who maintained that the report is accurate based on the information currently available. Still, the investigation is ongoing.

Preston was the light in the lives of all who knew and loved him. He became popular on TikTok for videos in which he would receive instructions from his mother and respond with an enthusiastic "Okay!" before promptly doing the opposite.

Those clips, which sometimes included Paisley, often involved Preston playing in the mud or water, as the youngster loved the outdoors. His last video was from just under a week before his demise.