A tragic fatal crash affects communities, investigation seeks answers after tragedy, and community tribute honors lost victims.
A head-on collision forever destroyed two families, one of them Hispanic, after a BMW driver crashed into a Chevy near 12th Street and Memorial in Racine, Wisconsin. Both drivers died on the scene.
It was around 3:53 pm on March 2nd when Melitón Antonio Sánchez, 46, and Steve Ivory, 18, crossed paths.
The young man was driving a BMW, while the Hispanic man was traveling in a Chevy with another minor family member. The police report indicates that Ivory was heading south and Sánchez was heading north.
The BMW driver was reportedly speeding recklessly and had a frontal collision with the Chevy, causing the Chevy to lose its entire front end and fall onto another parked car on the same street. The BMW was completely destroyed as well.
Emergency services responded to the site, assisted the injured, and coordinated the debris removal. The cars were scattered on the road, both drivers lost their lives almost instantly, while Sánchez’s companion survived with injuries that were not life-threatening, identified as one of his older sons.
The Hispanic family is devastated, as Melitón Sánchez, known affectionately as “Meli,” was the pillar supporting his wife and five children. He worked long hours at two restaurants, Denny’s and IHOP in Racine, where a GoFundMe account was created to support his wife and children.
Police determined that the BMW was speeding recklessly and crossed the center line to collide with the Chevy. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact traffic investigator Kellen Gullifor.
A plea has been made to the community to come forward with any information. Investigators are working to locate security cameras in the area to determine responsibilities in the crash and ensure justice for the victims’ families. Friends and family of Sánchez have paid tribute to him at the accident site, releasing balloons in his honor and organizing a vigil where the entire community participated.
Known for his charisma and years of work in nearby restaurants, Melitón Antonio Sánchez was a well-respected figure in the area where he tragically lost his life.
