Couple killed in Grand Prairie wrong-way accident remembered for love of animals
A young couple killed in a crash with a driver who was traveling the wrong way on Interstate 30 in Grand Prairie on Friday morning are being remembered for their love and passion for animals, loved ones said on social media.
Mathew Yang, 25, Jasmine Huerta, 20, and Huerta’s dog died after a Ford truck, traveling west on eastbound I-30 near Belt Line Road, crashed into their vehicle around 1 a.m.
Christian Lopez, 29, who was driving the truck, also was killed in the crash, authorities said.
The Four Paws Animal Hospital, located in Rowlett, where Yang was employed, first believed the couple was missing, Facebook posts Saturday morning around 7:45 a.m. showed. The animal hospital later confirmed Saturday night that the couple were killed in the accident.
“It is with a broken heart that we are letting you guys know that our sweet Mathew and his girlfriend, Jasmine, were killed in a car accident,” a Facebook post by the animal hospital said. “We are devastated — but more than anything, we are just grieving deeply for both of their families. Words fail.”
The animal shelter’s staff mourned the death of Yang, adding Monday morning that they were “still in shock and very emotional.”
Two separate GoFundMe accounts for Yang and Huerta had raised a combined $41,250 toward funeral arrangements for the couple.
“For those who knew Mathew he was a caring, loving and kind person. He always knew how to make people smile,” the fundraising campaign for Yang said. “He had a vibrant personality that always gave a good laughter. He had a passion for animals, cooking and soccer. He’s touched our hearts in different ways. We ask that you hold on to the good memories and the great times.”
Similarly, Huerta was described as “a loving and gentle person who always put others before herself.”
“She had a passion for animals and always shined a room as she walked in. Jasmine would love nothing more than for us to honor her memory and remember all the great laughter and joy she brought to us,” family wrote on her GoFundMe page.
Both families requested privacy as they grieve the losses.
Television station KDFW reported that no brakes were applied and that both vehicles’ computer systems were destroyed in the crash, according to investigators.
“It’s unknown how fast the vehicles were going,” the news outlet reported. “Police also say toxicology reports could take four to six weeks to find out if any other factors were involved.”
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 1:32 PM.
