Van In Bronx Zoo: Father Says ‘I Want To Die’ After Losing Family

A van plunged more than 50? from the Bronx River Parkway into the Bronx Zoo on Sunday. Seven people, three generations of the same Bronx family, headed to a family reunion were all killed in the tragic crash.

Juan Gonzalez, whose family was killed in the tragic Bronx Zoo van accident, was quoted by the New York Post having said:

“What can I say? I don’t want to be here. I want to die.”

Gonzalez’s 45-year-old wife, Maria, and his 10-year-old daughter were both killed in the crash. Maria’s 85-year-old father, 81-year-old mother, 39-year-old sister, and two nieces (ages 7 and 3) were also killed after the van plunged 50 feet from the Bronx River Parkway.

The family was headed towards Maria’s sister’s home in the Bronx when she lost control of the vehicle, police indicated. The vehicle then flew off the parkway next the Bronx Zoo at roughly 12:30 p.m. local time, Y! News reported.

While the exact cause of the crash is still unclear at this time, the Associated Press reported that the SUV was southbound when the vehicle:

“Bounced off the median, crossed all southbound lanes over to the guardrail and fell.”

With this particular tragedy marking the second time in the same year that a vehicle has fallen from the Bronx River Parkway to the streets below. Had this not been the second occurrence in the same year, the argument that this was a freak accident might stand, however, that is simply not the case. Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. reiterated the point as he said:

“For the second time in a year, an accident on the Bronx River Parkway has led to a car falling off the highway to the streets below.”

How would you feel if you were in the shoes of Juan Gonzalez?