Less than a day after a crash in Tampa claimed five lives, family members of those lost, as well as one witness who was almost caught in the crash, all were struggling in the wake of the tragedy.

26-year-old Delilah Fernandez was on the road Wednesday night and dodged the car that started the crash. Today, she can't shake what she saw -- the fiery crash off of SR-574 and Coconut Palm Drive that killed five and sent three to the hospital.

"It keeps on coming back and back and back," said Fernandez.
 
She expressed heartbreak for the Bernal and Murillo families victimized by the tragedy, especially the children who died. Fernandez added she knows, had it been just minutes earlier, it could have been her in the fiery wreck.

"It happened just so fast, in a split second," said Fernandez.

Families heading home from church

The Bernals and Murillos were inside the van that caught fire, on their way home from church when they were hit. The Bernal's father was the only family member not in the van.

Relatives are still trying to come to grips with what happened.
 
"We're not doing well," said cousin Gisela Martinez. "We're putting on a good face. We're trying to be strong, but we'll go home and nothing will be the same again.
 
Maria Bernal, 10, and John Bernal, Jr., 9 were among those killed in the crash. Maria and John were students at Mango Elementary. Isabella would have celebrated her birthday next week.
 
Students at Mango Elementary made sympathy cards for the family on Thursday. Meanwhile, their 18-year-old sister, Lina Bernal, and a cousin who was visiting from Colombia, Luisa Louisa, are both fighting for their lives in the hospital. They were also in the van.
 
"It's not easy," said cousin Mizrah Rodriguez. "It's not easy."
 
Now, the family has set up a Gofundme page to raise money for funeral expenses. Visit gofundme.com/bernal-portocarrero-family-tragedy-2w9txtg to make a donation.

This Gofundme.com site is not managed by Bay News 9/News 13. For more information on how the site works and the rules visit  http://www.gofundme.com/safety.

Prized possession

Photo: Cortes family

One look at Pablo Cortes' Facebook page is all it would take to know that Cortes was a car enthusiast. Many of the photos there featured his prized possession, a blue 2012 Volkswagon Golf

Close friend Erik Hernandez said the 22-year-old Cortes took great pride in the car, and loved showing it off.

"He loved to be at the show," said Hernandez. "Loved to park, hang out, be with friends."

Friends say Cortes was leaving a car meet at the Tampa Grand Prix Wednesday with his new girlfriend, Jolie Bartolome, 19.

FHP troopers said Cortes was driving down MLK Jr. Boulevard when he lost control and crossed over into oncoming traffic, causing that crash that claimed both his and Bartolome's lives. Though the report on the crash did indicate that speed was a factor in the incident, Cortes was not racing when he crashed.

In fact, Hernandez said racing was not something Cortes was even into, and called him a "cautious driver."

"It just had to have been an accident," said Hernandez, "that he just didn't see it going on."