Kylie Rae Harris crash a shock for NM fire chief; learns his 16-year-old daughter also died
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A New Mexico volunteer fire chief who responded to Wednesday night's fatal crash that killed country singer Kylie Rae Harris learned to his horror that his own 16-year-old daughter also died in the accident, according to a report.
The teen, Maria Elena Cruz, had been driving home from work when Harris made contact with the back of a pickup truck and veered into oncoming traffic, hitting Cruz's vehicle head-on, police said.
Pedro Cruz, a volunteer fire chief with the San Cristobal Fire and Maria’s father, responded to the call in Taos County, N.M., Albuquerque's KRQE-TV reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}SHERIFF SAYS WITH 'MOST CERTAINTY' KYLIE RAE HARRIS CAUSED CRASH THAT KILLED HER, TEEN: REPORTS
Both Cruz and Harris died at the scene.
“He’s also an EMT, so he’s no stranger to going out on calls -- both medical, crashes and other things -- but very traumatic for him to not know but to respond anyway and then find it was his family member,” Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}San Cristobel community members held a benefit Friday to raise money for the Cruz family. A memorial in memory of the teen was created at Taos High School, where she was a junior, Albuquerque's KOB-TV reported.
One of the vehicles involved in the three-car crash Wednesday. (Taos County Sheriff's Office )
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“They just want the community to remember their daughter, Maria Elena, as kind, loving and caring -- wonderful daughter, wonderful sister, and a just kind-hearted soul,” Taos County Fire Chief Mike Cordova said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hogrefe said the crash was "most certainly" Harris' fault and Cruz was an "innocent victim."
Harris had a history of DUI incidents, KRQE reported.