Tragic Accident near Newberry Springs Claims Lives of Father and Three Children
Father and Three Children Tragically Die near Newberry Springs – Details
The three children’s mother has made her voice heard. She has mentioned ways people may help and is heartbroken but thankful for the support and prayers.
On May 4, a father and his three children lost their lives in a horrific crash on the 40 Freeway near Newberry Springs.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reports that the event happened at 7:45 a.m. on the westbound side of the freeway, west of Hector Road.
The victims were on the road in a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck that was being driven by Yermo resident Bryce Martinez, 35. He was accompanied by a girl and two boys.
They have been identified as Bryce’s boys, Trent Martinez, 15, and Cole Martinez, 16, as well as his 10-year-old daughter, Sailor Martinez.
Each of the three kids lived in Barstow. Tragically, the four passed away at the collision site from their wounds. According to officials, the driver’s motivations for allowing the car to swerve to the right are still being looked into.
After leaving the paved road, the truck went onto the dirt shoulder and repeatedly flipped over.
Although CHP officials have indicated that drunk driving was not thought to be a part in the disaster, the cause and circumstances of the incident are still being investigated.
Following the unfortunate deaths, CHP Lt. Adam Carmichall offered his condolences, saying, “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life and extend our deepest sympathies to the families affected.”
He said, “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.”
Tamara Ortiz is the survivor of Bryce, Sailor, Trent, and Cole. The three children’s mother, Tamara, posted a statement on Facebook expressing her grief over the tragedy.
“It has taken me a long time to come to terms with the loss of my lovely babies. I can’t express how grateful I am for everyone’s prayers, calls, texts, and visits to see how I’m doing. For us, it is extremely important. During this difficult period in our lives, the abundance of love and support has been a blessing,” she wrote.
For those who wanted to contribute, Tamara also included a link to a GoFundMe page. The initiative was planned by Michael Garcia, Tamara’s partner since 2015, to assist the family in overcoming the catastrophe.
The fundraiser had raised $41,131 of its $45,000 target as of the time of publication. He pointed out that Tamara had only authorized one account, and she would receive all earnings directly.
In order to assist with funeral costs, Michael also mentioned that direct donations may be sent to Dignity Memorial in Barstow, which has graciously agreed to take phone or in-person gifts.
The family was also providing for Peyton and Lynsey, Tamara and Michael’s other two children, while also mourning the death of the three children.
Michael revealed that although Tamara had taken her time accepting assistance from others, she was incredibly grateful for the kindness and support shown to them during this trying time.
Additionally, others who know the family have been sending condolences. The fatalities were regulars at Bear Creek Retreat, which posted 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 business continued, “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. 💔.”
Another tragedy just rocked social media as the community of Tamara and Michael prepares to bury a father and three children. The passing of Preston Ordone, who was lovingly referred to online as “Okay Baby,” devastated the Ordone family and the TikTok community.
Louisiana State Police were called to a single-vehicle collision on Interstate 12 in St. Tammany Parish on April 24, 2025. Jaelan and Katelynn Ordone, together with their two-year-old son Preston, were named as the victims.
All three were sent to nearby hospitals for treatment after suffering serious injuries. According to an initial inquiry, they were in a 2011 Ford F-150 heading east on I-12 when the vehicle swerved off the road and collided with a tree for unidentified reasons.
According to the police, their son was “improperly restrained” in his child safety seat, while Jaelan and Katelynn were appropriately restrained at the time of the accident. The pair had been admitted to the hospital.
Friends of Katelynn and her family posted a video update on her social media accounts after the crash. They said that when the accident happened, Preston’s older sister, Paisley, was at school.
As for Jaelan and Katelynn’s recuperation, they disclosed that Katelynn had a serious concussion and several fractured bones. She reportedly walked for the first time since the accident on the day they taped the update.
They also disclosed that Jaelan and Katelynn were at separate hospitals after he had emergency surgery on one of his legs. Prayers and further support were sent by Preston’s and his family’s supporters.
The Ordone family created a GoFundMe in response to this and growing medical expenses.
“Sadly, their 2-year-old son, Preston Ordone—fondly known as the ‘Okay Baby’ on TikTok—was in the back seat,” the campaign description confirms after providing a brief account of the disaster. Preston died in the hospital after suffering severe injuries.
They raised $39,326 as of this writing, falling short of their target of $50,000. Jaelan and Katelynn were recuperating at Lakeview Hospital.
The grandpa of Preston, Glen Norris, called Nola.com while he was at the hospital. He challenged certain information in the State Police report.
Glen asserted that Preston was properly strapped in his seat, despite the report claiming that he was not. He revealed that the incident happened when the family was making their way home after a doctor’s appointment.
Glen claimed to have had a conversation with a witness who was following the truck when it collided and Preston was taken out of it. According to reports, the witness attested to Preston’s appropriate restraint.
Glen claimed he was numb from the boy’s death. But he was nevertheless incensed by the police report, which he described as “hurtful and painful.
” Trooper Marc Gremillion, who was also interviewed by Nola.com, insisted that the report is true given the evidence at hand. The probe is still ongoing, though.
For everyone who knew and loved Preston, he was a beacon of hope.
He rose to fame on TikTok by posting videos in which his mother would give him directions and he would enthusiastically reply, “Okay!” before immediately doing the exact opposite.
Because the child liked the outdoors, Preston was frequently seen playing in the mud or water in those clips, which occasionally featured Paisley.
Less than a week before he passed away, he recorded his final video.
