HOUSTON – A mother of three was killed in a crash shortly after leaving her son's kindergarten graduation, police said.
After the graduation at Horn Elementary Wednesday afternoon, Elida Zolorzano was pulling out of the Food Town parking lot in southwest Houston when a car going north on Fondren hit her SUV, according to police.
The impact caused her to lose control and hit a tree in the median. According to police, Zolorzano was not wearing her seat belt. She died at the scene.
Two of her three children were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Police said the 4- and 6-year-old boys were not secured in a car seat, but were wearing seat belts. The boys were transported to an area hospital with broken bones.
"I ran over there and I saw the lady," said Imran Khan, who works nearby. "She was knocked out in the front seat. (One) kid was in the back seat bleeding."
Both boys were taken to Texas Children's Hospital but are expected to survive.
Family members said Zolorzano was 23 and from El Salvador.
"She was an excellent person," said her 11-year-old niece, Amanda, who arrived at the scene with other family members. "She loved her children so much. We're all grief-stricken."
Police said one witness claims to have seen people stealing groceries from the crashed SUV but several other witnesses disputed that claim.
Police said they questioned the driver of the vehicle that hit the SUV, found no fault and released the driver, who was not injured..