Hermenegildo Melendez, Veronica Cerda, and Family Killed in Head-On Collision on I-45 Near Leona, Texas
On May 10, 2025, Hermenegildo Melendez, 55, of Houston, Texas, along with his wife Veronica Cerda, 53, and their three daughters—Veronica Denise Cerda, 26; Rebecca Cerda, 20; and Daniela Cerda, 18—were killed in a head-on collision on Interstate 45 near Leona, Texas. The crash occurred at approximately 3:17 p.m. when a 2016 Dodge pickup, driven by Toriano Fair, 43, of Dallas, veered off the southbound lanes, struck a guardrail, and crossed the center median, striking the northbound 2023 Ford F-150 driven by Melendez. Both vehicles ignited upon impact, and all five occupants of the Ford F-150 were pronounced dead at the scene by Leon County Justice of the Peace Jeff Carr. Fair was transported to CHI St. Joseph Regional Hospital in Bryan with suspected serious injuries.
The Centerville Volunteer Fire Department and Leona Volunteer Fire Department responded to extinguish the fire and recover the victims from the vehicles. The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the cause of the incident, with no additional details released as of now. The crash resulted in the immediate deaths of the entire Melendez-Cerda family, all residents of Houston.
