Almost 1,000 mourners overflowed the pews of University Christian Church in Los Angeles for a memorial service on Aug. 17 to celebrate the lives of Yadira and Marcos Caamal. The husband and wife had lived in San Fernando for nearly 20 years when they were both fatally injured in a two-car collision in mid-July, and relatives are now seeking justice for their untimely deaths.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking and devastating. I think we’re all still in shock and disbelief,” said Natalia Saucedo, Yadira’s niece, about the tragic and unexpected loss of her beloved aunt and uncle. Yadira, 45, passed away the same night of the accident. Marcos, who was 48, was hospitalized and remained in a coma for more than three weeks before succumbing to his injuries on Aug. 9.
Last week, Saucedo and other relatives – including her mother, Yadira’s sister Isela Saucedo – launched a Change.org petition urging action from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The goal is to ensure that the driver they believe to be at fault – a teenager they were informed was driving the second vehicle illegally and recklessly – will be held accountable. His name has not been released and to date there has been no arrest or charges related to the deadly incident.
“Marcos and Yadira were very involved in their community and were always very devoted to their family. They were both such good, hard-working people,” Isela told the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol. “I am their voice – and I am going to fight for them.”
‘A Lifetime of Love’
“It’s just so hard to describe – to have a lifetime of love and joy gone in an instant is almost impossible to wrap your head and your heart around,” said Natalia. “They had always been part of my life.”
Yadira and Marcos met as teenagers at Culver City High School in 1996 and became inseparable – and they remained together ever since. They were married in 2006 and were “always together” – planning vacations, going on date nights to the movies and spending time with family, said Isela.
“It was the most beautiful love story with them,” she recounted. “They were just so deeply in love. It was really hard because Yadi had passed away first and then Marcos was obviously in a coma. And it just happened that they went together.”
Because Marcos never awoke from the coma, “They never had to know what it was like to be without each other on this earth,” added Natalia.
For Isela and her two remaining siblings, Marcos “wasn’t just a brother-in-law – he was like a brother to us.”
“His [Marcos’] parents passed away when he was 20 … and Marcos was just folded into our family,” she described. “My parents became his parents and Marcos became like a son to them.
“We miss them both so much – I just don’t know a world without them,” continued Isela. “My heart breaks every morning. … I’ve never gone through anything like this, and losing both of them it’s even more painful.”
Isela said they find some measure of solace knowing that Yadira and Marcos – who attended Good Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch – “were believers and that gives us some peace because we know they’re together again.”
Seeking Justice for Yadira and Marcos
Three people were involved in the fatal accident – Yadira and Marcos, who drove a white Audi sedan, and the unidentified teen, who was driving a black Silverado truck. Isela said they were informed the driver in the truck reportedly ran a red light and was driving at “more than double the speed limit.”
San Fernando Police Department (SFPD) Chief Fabian Valdez, while at the scene of the tragedy, described it as a “devastating traffic accident” near the intersection of San Fernando Mission Boulevard and Hollister Street. Photos of the crash show the couple’s car hit a telephone pole and the other car landing right against them. Both vehicles were heavily damaged. Yadira died that same night.
Family Calls for Action
“On July 15th, Marcos and Yadira Caamal were tragically killed by a reckless driver,” states the family’s online petition, which was posted Aug. 29. “The evidence shows the unlicensed driver caused the collision through multiple acts of gross negligence. At this point, no criminal charges have been filed against the driver and no arrest has been made.
“Please support this petition for accountability and meaningful action by the Los Angeles District Attorney,” the statement concludes.
Shortly after the collision, SFPD Lt. CJ Chiasson said detectives were investigating the accident as possible vehicular manslaughter. Valdez told the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol that the crash was still under investigation and said the case would soon be turned over to the office of the district attorney.
‘We Want to be There for Them’
The couple had lived in San Fernando since 2006. Marcos was a technician for Terminix and worked with many local clients. He was also a BMX bike enthusiast and often created one-of-a-kind custom bikes for himself and others. Yadira was a successful realtor and was a “very passionate, goal-driven person [who] always believed in all of our dreams,” said Isela.
Although the couple didn’t have children of their own, they loved and doted on their 16 nieces and nephews “like they were their own kids – they would do anything for any of us,” recalled Natalia.
That’s the kind of people Yadira and Marcos always were, added Isela.
“They loved and served the people around them,” she said. “Everyone knew they would do anything for us. They were there any time we needed them, especially in the hard times, when family members were going through a medical crisis – they were always there at their bedside.
“Now,” she continued, “we want to be there for them.”
To view the Change.org online petition, go to: www.change.org/p/urge-action-from-l-a-district-attorney-justice-for-marcos-yadira-caamal.
Editor Diana Martinez contributed to this article.
Soy prima de Marcos. La vida nos cambió con este fatal accidente., queremos justicia, exigimos justicia.
How did you get information about the minor ? I’m trying to get info about a similar situation involving a minor and can’t get any info. How did you get it?
Yadira y Marcos siempre juntos, un matrimonio lleno de amor y respeto, trabajadores, amorosos con la gente, amaban a sus familia., Estoy tan lastimada, me pregunto cada minuto….porque?
Porque ellos y nunca encontraré la respuesta.
Solo tengo fe y esperanza que se haga JUSTICIA no puede quedar impune. Somos familias muy lastimadas por este fatal accidente, queremos algo de paz… sabiendo que esta persona será castigada por el homicidio de 2 personas
My condolences to the families and my prayers go out to the little boy and his family as well I can’t imagine what he’s going through. What a tragic accident so sad.