Five Dead, Including Three Children, After Stolen Car Crashes on Colorado Highway

An ordinary afternoon turned into an unthinkable tragedy when a family en route to visit a hospitalized loved one was struck head-on, leaving behind a trail of carnage, heartbreak, and unanswered questions.

A Colorado family's world was shattered beyond comprehension on Monday afternoon when another vehicle crashed head-on into theirs, killing five people — four of them from the same family, and three of them children.

The horrific collision unfolded around 4:39 p.m. on November 24, 2025, along Highway 83 near Russellville Road in Douglas County, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

Suspect Veers Into Oncoming Traffic, Leaving Devastation Behind

Just over an hour earlier, one of the vehicles involved — a Toyota Matrix — had been reported stolen from an RTD station in Aurora.

The suspect behind the wheel? Thirty-one-year-old Walter Huling, who investigators say was driving the stolen Toyota when he veered into oncoming traffic, slamming straight into a Ford sedan carrying the Corado family.

Walter, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the Toyota and died at the scene.

A Family Shattered: Army Reservist and Three Children Killed in the Wreck

Inside the Ford were 35-year-old Army reservist Alvin Corado, his three children — Toretto, 8; MaKenlee, 12; and Mia, 13 — and his girlfriend's two sons, Jase Green, 12, and Jordan Green, 14.

Alvin, Toretto, MaKenlee, and Jase were all killed instantly. Only Mia and Jordan survived, both with catastrophic injuries. They were airlifted to the Children's Hospital Colorado in critical condition.

Mia sustained a lacerated liver, fractured pelvis, and a hole in her esophagus, according to her uncle, Jose Rodriguez. Jordan's injuries included two broken femurs and multiple facial fractures.

The Stolen Car, the Hijacking, and a Preventable Nightmare

Only an hour before the deadly crash, Walter had ripped the Toyota Matrix away from its owner at a parking garage in Aurora — a mere 20 miles away. The woman told police she was getting into her car when a man approached, asked for a ride, and when she refused, pulled her from the vehicle and sped off.

This senseless theft led directly to the deaths of four innocent people — all of whom had simply been on their way to visit a mother recovering from surgery.

Jose confirmed that the Corados were driving to see Alvin's girlfriend — the mother of Jase and Jordan — who had just undergone spinal fusion surgery that morning.

Life360 Alert Was First Clue Family Was in Trouble

According to Jose, it was the Life360 app that first tipped off relatives to the unfolding tragedy. "My fiancé noticed there was a crash alert," he recalled. He said the app showed the family's car had gone from 57 mph to a dead stop in an instant.

"Marissa has had Life360 for a min, but because Marissa was going to be out of town while the kids were with their dad, Mia insisted more of us download it and join her 360," he added.

It was through a mix of law enforcement updates and haunting social media posts that the family began to piece together the magnitude of what had occurred.

"Just too much information, the fluidity and the information, I knew was true," Jose said.

'Like Losing Another Son': The Agony of Confirmation

The moment the family learned that Toretto and MaKenlee were gone will forever be etched into their memories. "It's like losing another son. It's exactly how it feels — and losing a daughter," Jose shared, his grief raw and unspeakable.

Thirteen-year-old Mia and 14-year-old Jordan remain hospitalized, still fighting to recover from their injuries. On Wednesday night, Mia woke up after surgery and was removed from sedation and intubation.

Her mother, Marissa, later shared on Facebook that Mia's first words were asking where her father was. After being told that her father and siblings had died, she simply said, "I know."

Mia later recalled that she had remained conscious during the crash — and even tried to help her family. "The things Mia saw and went through is something that no person should ever have to witness, let alone a 13-year-old witnessing of her very own family," Marissa wrote.

'Just Firecrackers': Remembering the Corado Children

Jose described Mia as someone who was always smiling, always protective of others. "Mia, you know she's always happy making sure everyone is okay," he said.

He painted a vivid picture of the Corado siblings — full of personality, energy, and promise. "Just firecrackers. [MaKenlee's] always got the jokes. Toretto is always full of life, building little inventions with his papers. Spider-Man was always his favorite," he shared.

Toretto had recently joined a gifted program, while MaKenlee had triumphed over a severe form of epilepsy and had just started playing volleyball.

Alvin, their father, had acted heroically, Jose added. "Alvin did everything he could to avoid the accident," he stated. "There were multiple signs based on what the authorities told us that he veered the vehicle as soon as he could to try to make the impact on him and not the children."

A Suspect with 15 Arrests and a System That Failed

Walter was no stranger to law enforcement. He had been arrested 15 times between 2013 and 2019 — for assault, bribery, burglary, DUI, parole violations, and more.

He had served two prison terms, most recently a six-year sentence for a 2019 assault in downtown Denver, where he knocked a man unconscious, assaulted the man's wife, and then attacked the responding police officer.

George Brauchler, the district attorney for the 23rd Judicial District, openly questioned how someone with such a violent, repeat criminal history could be walking free.

"I mean, it's an 11-page criminal history that dates back to when this guy was a juvenile," Brauchler said. "This guy's criminal history and the fact that he appears to have been on parole and this happened seems like we are failing the community."

Community Rallies to Help Grieving Families as Survivors Fight On

In the days since the devastating crash, the Corado family has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for funeral costs, transport the bodies of Toretto and MaKenlee back to Sioux Falls, and support Marissa as she remains by Mia's side during her recovery.

As of Friday, the fundraiser had raised more than $86,000 of its $130,000 goal. Jose had one final message for the public: "Hug your kids a little tighter tonight... You don't know how life can change in an instant," he said.

Tragically, the Corado family's devastating loss is not the only case of unimaginable heartbreak to strike Colorado in recent months. Back in August, a family of five was killed in a head-on car crash, officials said.

The Grand County Coroner's Office confirmed that two adults and three children died in the collision on Highway 9 south of Kremmling on the morning of Monday, August 4, 2025.

Authorities identified the victims as Andres Cabral-Banuelos, two, Manuel Cabral-Banuelos, 5, Maria Cabral-Banuelos, 12, Andrea Banuelos-Salazar, 30, and Manuel Cabral-Torres, 34. All were residents of Kremmling who died just minutes away from their home.

According to the coroner's office, "The impact of the collision caused both vehicles to become completely engulfed in flames. First responders arrived quickly, but despite heroic efforts, the family did not survive."

"The loss of an entire family is an unspeakable tragedy, and our hearts are with all who are grieving during this incredibly difficult time," concluded the statement from the coroner's office.

Colorado State Patrol revealed the family was traveling in a GMC Yukon SUV when a Ford F-150 pickup truck, driven by a 25-year-old man, crossed from the northbound to the southbound lane, striking their vehicle head-on. The pickup driver sustained life-threatening injuries.

Trooper Hunter Mathews of Colorado State Patrol said, "Despite Colorado's downward trend for fatal crashes this year, these past two months have been devastating for the loved ones and communities left behind due to violent head-on collisions."

A fundraising effort has been launched to support the family's funeral and transportation costs. "In these difficult times, we must come together more than ever, just as Manuel always wanted," wrote Javier on the GoFundMe page.

He added that donations will help give the family a proper farewell surrounded by their closest loved ones. As of now, the fundraiser has collected $80,182 of its $80,000 goal. More donations are expected to pour in soon.

Community members have also voiced their grief and frustration on social media. In a Facebook post, Ebonie Marie Baxter described the crash as a failure to stay in the correct lane, emphasizing that five innocent lives were lost as a result.

She urged that the victims' names be remembered and hoped their story would serve as a wake-up call to distracted drivers.

Another relative, Ruby Torres, shared a message on Facebook expressing sorrow over the loss of the five family members.

She echoed Javier's call for unity during this difficult time and asked for donations to help with funeral and transportation expenses so the family could say their final goodbyes surrounded by loved ones. She extended thanks to all who contribute, share the message, or keep the family in their prayers.

The loss of the Cabral-Banuelos family has left a deep void in Kremmling and beyond. As relatives, friends, and neighbors mourn, the community continues to unite in grief and solidarity — honoring the lives cut short and ensuring their memory endures.