Boy left without guardian following deadly Coachella crash
A family is trying to cope after a deadly car crash in Coachella last week took the life of 92-year-old Ramon Cecena.
A 12-year-old boy from Coachella who was raised by his grandfather is looking for stability as his aunt who lives out of state is making the move to the valley — taking on a fifth child and hoping to fill her father’s shoes.
Josue Cecena and his grandfather, Ramon Cecena, were dropping off a friend at home when they were involved in a car crash at the intersection of Harrison Street and Cairo Avenue.
“I feel sad, mad. How could this happen,?” Josue said. “I didn’t really get to see my grandpa and they took him to the ambulance.”
Ramon Cecena was rushed to the hospital and died of his injuries.The 92-year-old grandfather was Josue’s primary guardian. He adopted Josue at just 2 years old.
“He was the only person I had. A person I looked up to. A person that only took care of me when no one did,” Josue said.
“My dad adored him; he was his everything. I think that’s what kept my dad going, is little Josue,” said Ana Cecena, Ramon’s daughter and Josue’s aunt. Ana lives in Arizona and is in the process of adopting Josue.
She has four kids of her own and is moving her family to the valley to raise Josue in his home.
“Just feel focused on him. For him to be good in school. My dad had him in basketball, soccer. He kept him busy. He had him in ACES after school. He was always busy with him, so I want to do the same thing that my dad did for him,” Ana said.
One of Josue’s coaches started a GoFundMe page to help the family with funeral costs and moving expenses.
“I’m shocked and I’m grateful. I see it as my dad is watching over us.God is…it’s amazing how so many people loved him. He was very giving. Coaches say he was always helping out everyone else,” said Ana.
Josue said he’s focused on fulfilling his grandfather’s legacy, “to do good in school. Just be the best I can, to be kind to others and never give up. And just never go on the wrong path. I’m going to do what he says.”
Josue still suffers from headaches every day since the accident. His friend, who was also in the car, is recovering from a fractured neck.
Here’s a link to the GoFundMe page for Ramon Cecena’s funeral.
More: I-Team and Stands for You investigations
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