A five-year-old girl miraculously survived a devastating car crash in Colorado that claimed the lives of both her parents. Kayce Griffin, 5, endured more than 24 hours trapped inside a wrecked truck after her parents, Klariza Tarango, 24, and Devante Griffin, 25, died when the vehicle overturned.
The wreckage was discovered by Colorado State Police on Saturday off US Highway 160, following a report from a nearby driver who noticed the overturned truck, according to the Durango Herald. The crash site had been spotted on Friday but was not reported until the following day.
Authorities stated that the truck was the only vehicle involved in the incident, and they believe the crash occurred around 6 a.m. on Friday. The vehicle was not visible from the road, which likely contributed to the delay in discovery.
Little Kayce sustained only minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. She has since been released into the care of her grandfather. While the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, officials have ruled out high speed and impairment as contributing factors.
Neither Klariza nor Devante were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith confirmed.
A GoFundMe campaign was created by Devante's mother, Lequette Reed, who shared details of the tragedy. “My son Devante Griffin was in a tragic car accident outside of Mayfield. His truck rolled over, and the accident took both his life and his girlfriend's,” she wrote. “Miraculously, my grandbaby survived, but our family has been left heartbroken and overwhelmed by this sudden loss.”
According to a separate GoFundMe set up for Devante, the couple also leaves behind a two-year-old daughter, Karenza. Devante is remembered as a loving “jokester” who could light up any room, while Klariza is remembered as a devoted mother.
The grieving families plan to use the donations to cover funeral expenses and medical costs for the five-year-old survivor. “This would mean so much to me and the family because I don't know how or where to begin,” Lequette Reed wrote. “Thank you in advance for your kindness, support, and prayers.”
Police have not released an update on the investigation, but a memorial with a cross has been placed at the crash site.
