Trigger Warning: This article mentions the death of a minor. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
A teenager reportedly rammed her car into the living room of a Texas family in Stephenville. This resulted in the death of a mother and son. The driver has been arrested and charged with two counts of criminally negligent homicide.
According to the press release from the Stephenville Police Department, 18-year-old Gracie Yates crashed her car into the family’s home. The police responded to a 911 call at 3:26 a.m. on March 22, 2026.
Upon arriving at the scene, authorities discovered multiple members of the family injured, including a mother and her young son. According to Law & Crime, the mother was identified as 49-year-old Barbara Rocha, and her son was 7-year-old Alex Aaron Rocha.
TRAGIC CRASH CLAIMS MOTHER & SON IN STEPHENVILLE
Car veers off road early Sunday, slams into home — 7-year-old Alex Rocha & his mother Barbara killed; driver Gracie Yates, 18, arrested on two counts of criminally negligent homicide.
Full Story: https://t.co/hp0bvOHM3F pic.twitter.com/49mhclJ1w7
— The Dallas Express News (@DallasExpress) March 23, 2026
When paramedics arrived at the scene, they reportedly attempted several life-saving procedures. Unfortunately, the two died from their injuries and were pronounced dead at Texas Health Resources in Stephenville. They were transported there by the Stephenville Fire Department and Erath County EMS.
Yates was later arrested and charged. The police have claimed that the investigation is currently ongoing and no further updates will be shared until it is complete.
In an interview with Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, the victim’s family member spoke out in the aftermath of the tragedy. Raul Rocha was Barbara’s son and Alex’s older brother. Reflecting on their deaths, he said, “I never imagined this to happen to me…”
Raul stated that his mother didn’t deserve to die and fondly recalled her memories. According to Raul, his mother was the “sweetest woman” he knew. When talking about his little brother, he got emotional and paused before continuing.
With tears in his eyes, he said, “He’s my little brother—I won’t be able to see him grow up.” He then recalled hearing the passing of his beloved mom and brother through a phone call.
Barbara Rocha and her son Aron, were sleeping together when a vehicle crashed through the back of their house and struck them head-on, killing them both. Alfredo Rocha talks about the sadness the family is feeling after the tragic accident. https://t.co/iNZYedHhCb pic.twitter.com/rCRXFydVOC
— CBS News Texas (@CBSNewsTexas) March 25, 2026
Raul was reportedly “jolted awake” by a phone call from his father when he got the news. Another brother, Alfredo Raul, was a witness to the crime. Raul recounted his surviving brother’s account of the events that took place that day.
Raul claimed that after his brother ran into the room after hearing a “crash,” he could hear his mother crying, while Alex was screaming for help. Raul said, “I have that stuck at the back of my head right now… Just my brother screaming and my mom crying.”
Lastly, Raul mentioned what he’ll miss the most about his little brother and his mom. Apparently, Alex would always greet his brother with a hug and tell him he missed him a lot.
Their mother was described by him as a sweet, caring, and nurturing personality. Reflecting on the loss, he said, “I’m never going to get that again…” As mentioned, further details, including the legal implications of Yates’s crime and what led to this turn of events, are awaited.
