TEANECK, New Jersey – The seats in the last pew at the Church of St. Anastasia here were empty during Sunday mass.

Two bouquets of flowers, five votive candles and two photos lined the bench where the Trinidad family usually sat, a memorial to a father and his four daughters who died in a car accident in Delaware on Friday while returning from a vacation in Maryland.

Audie Trinidad, 61, and his daughters Kaitlyn, 20; Danna, 17, and 14-year-old twins Allison and Melissa were killed when a Ford F-350 pickup truck veered out of its lane on State Route 1 and crossed the grassy median into oncoming traffic, striking the family’s minivan.

Mary Rose, the girls’ mother, remained in the hospital in serious condition Sunday. Delaware State Police are still investigating the crash.

The tragedy has stunned this town of 40,000, where the family was tightly woven into the community. Trinidad was an usher at his church. His daughters were volleyball players. The family was active in the Filipino American Society of Teaneck.

On Saturday more than 200 students, parents, family members and friends gathered at Votee Park.

The vigil had been planned by friends of the Trinidad children, who posted on Facebook and Instagram.

The memorial began with a prayer and song, as the aching chorus of “Amazing Grace” mixed with sorrowful sobs as neighbors and friends of the children shared memories.

In Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed its condolences for the deaths of five members of Trinidad family.

“The Philippine consulate general in New York wished to express its deepest condolences to the bereaved Trinidad family and joins the Filipino community in mourning the tragic loss of (their) exemplary members,” the consulate general said in a statement

Tragedy in America: Filipino-American Father and Four Daughters Die in Fatal Car Accident—Town in Mourning

A great tragedy has shaken the hearts of many Filipinos after the news that a Filipino-American father and his four daughters were killed in a horrific car accident in California, USA. Amidst the sadness and grief, condolences have been pouring in from compatriots, not only in America but around the world.

The Accident
According to reports, the collision occurred along a highway in a certain part of California last week. According to initial investigations, the family was traveling home from a family outing when the vehicle suddenly lost control and collided with a large truck.

The father and four girls, all aged between 2 and 11, died on the spot. The mother, the only survivor, is currently hospitalized and continues to battle the physical and emotional toll of the tragedy.

A Father Considered a Pillar of the Community
The deceased father, a Filipino-American, was known as a hardworking and loving father, as well as an active member of his local church and the Filipino community in his city. He was often seen conducting community outreach and charity events, especially for newly arrived compatriots in America.

Condolences and Condolences
The news spread quickly on social media, where netizens poured in their condolences. Many OFWs and Filipino communities in various countries sent messages of hope, prayers, and financial assistance to the bereaved mother.

“It’s very painful as a parent and as a Filipino. You don’t want to experience this kind of pain,” said a compatriot who paid tribute on social media.

Appeal for Help
A fundraising campaign was immediately launched by friends and relatives of the family to help the only surviving mother with hospital expenses and to repatriate her family’s remains back to the Philippines.

Many are also calling on authorities to increase security on major roads, not only in America but also in the Philippines, so that such a tragedy will never happen again.

Behind every headline is a family destroyed, a mother left alone, and a Filipino people grieving. In a time of great sadness, hope continues that with unity and compassion, the wounds left by a tragedy that will never be forgotten will be healed.