The Arizona Department of Public Safety has reportedly identified the two people who were killed in a head-on crash on State Route 179 south of the Village of Oak Creek shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
According to DPS, the driver of a Honda Fit, a 17-year-old boy from Chino Valley, who was traveling northbound near milepost 301, began to drift toward the center of the southbound lane before colliding head-on with a GMC Sierra, whose driver was reportedly identified as Margarito “Ito” Hernandez, 35, of Camp Verde.
The drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the GMC Sierra suffered minor injuries and was transported to the Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood. DPS stated that the driver of the southbound vehicle was not wearing a seatbelt.
DPS officials stated that impairment is suspected to be a factor, but an investigation is ongoing. As a minor, the boy driving the Honda was not identified.
Hernandez was an employee of Dellepiane in the Village of Oak Creek.
Dellepiane owner Tomas Agostino and the Hernandez family are gathering donations through GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and help take care of Hernandez’s nine children.
“Ito was an amazing father who cared about nothing more than taking care of his family and making sure his kids never wanted for anything,” the GoFundMe page stated. “He was always telling his coworkers and friends how proud he was of each of his nine children. We want to continue to provide that support in his memory.”
A funeral service for Hernandez will take place on Friday, Sept. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Desert Willow Church, 918 W. General Crook Trail in Camp Verde.
“We request everyone to wear black because that’s what Ito wanted,” Agostino posted on social media. “I hope y’all can be there and say our last goodbye to Ito.”
The GoFundMe has raised $26,505 against its $25,000 goal. Donate here “Margarito Hernandez” on GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/margarito-hernandez.
