Giovanni Uballe Huerta and newly wedded wife, Kiah Begaye and their 2 young sons killed in head on crash in Mesa, Arizona after struck by Jesse Lovato ‘losing’ control of his pick up truck after admitting smoking marijuana and falling asleep behind the wheel.
A Los Lunas, Arizona man is facing felony charges after driving his vehicle into the path of a young family, leading to the deaths of a newly married couple and their two young children.
Giovanni Uballe Huerta, 26, and his high school sweetheart, Kiah Begaye, 26 and their two sons, ages 4 and 2, were killed Monday afternoon after a pick up truck driver struck the family in a head on crash along State Route 260 near Heber in Mesa, Arizona.
The family were driving back from New Mexico to their Maricopa County home on Labor Day, September 7, when they were hit by an errant driver along State Route 260 near Heber-Overgaard just on 12.30 p.m.
Suspect believed to have been impaired at time of crash
Jesse Lovato, 21 of Los Lunas, AZ., had been driving in the opposite direction before losing control of his pick up truck and crossing into the family’s lane and striking their Nissan Sentra vehicle head on according to the Department of Public Safety.
During questioning, Lovato claimed falling asleep behind the wheel and slamming into the family’s vehicle, KPNX reported. In addition, Lovato allegedly admitted to ‘smoking marijuana’ the night before.
Authorities now believe Lovato may have been impaired.
Lovato was booked into the Navajo County jail and is facing charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault.
High school sweethearts and young family remembered
Huerta and Begaye had been high school sweethearts before marrying in April, according to their parents, who spoke to AZ Family.
‘It doesn’t seem fair at all because they were so young,’ said Chrissy Kaibetoney, Begaye’s mother. ‘They had a whole life ahead of them. They had plans, goals and adventures they wanted to go on.’
Huerta’s father, Joel Huerta, told AZ Family, ‘It’s like a dream, and I’m still waiting to wake up. I wake up, and I’m still in the dream — more like a nightmare. They were my world. My son, my only son. Two generations just gone like that.’
The newlyweds were building a life together in Laveen, according to their families. Huerta worked as a mechanic, while Begaye was starting a Native American clothing business.
A fundraiser has been created to help the family with funeral services.
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