1 brother dead, another fighting for his life after head-on Phoenix crash

A family is mourning after the loss of 18-year-old Angel Chavarria when he got into a head-on crash Sept. 5. His brother, Ralph Chavarria Jr., is fighting for his life in the ICU.

PHOENIX - A man died and his brother is fighting for his life after a head-on crash Sunday in Phoenix, the department said.

The crash happened near Camelback and El Mirage roads, says Phoenix Fire Capt. Evan Gammage. One person needed to be extricated from a car.

Loved ones say Angel Chavarria, 18, who was a passenger, died from his injuries and his 19-year-old brother Ralph Chavarria Jr., who was driving, is hanging on for his life in the ICU.

Others were injured in the crash and their conditions aren't known.

Loved ones say Angel Chavarria (right), 18, died from his injuries and his 19-year-old brother Ralph Chavarria Jr. (left) is hanging on for his life in the ICU.

A vigil is being held for Angel, a soon-to-be father, a day after his death at the same spot where he lost his life.

Their aunt, Patricia Tejeda Chavarria, says Angel has a baby boy on the way, a child who will not get to meet his father.

"He just had so much more life to live and it just sucks it got taken away from us," she said.

Family members say Ralph was driving Angel to pick up his paycheck when they got hit. Ralph is also expecting a baby while trying to recover in the ICU.

His girlfriend, Bianca Ramirez, remembers when they last saw each other, saying, "He said, ‘I love you, have a good day,' and after that, I didn't hear from him and when I had heard the news, I got scared."

Angel and Ralph were not only brothers, but best friends – now without each other.

Samantha Valentin, their aunt, said of the crash, "It’s gonna be really hard to come back from this. It’s gonna take a toll."

It's unknown if speed or impairment are factors in the crash as the investigation is ongoing.

"Our family has been through so much tragedy over the past year. It’s unbearable. We lost their dad. Angel's dad was killed a year ago by a drunk driver, so it’s just hard," Valentin said.

Donate to Angel's GoFundMe here.