KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Details About Father Charged in Crash that Kills Children

Details About Father Charged in Crash that Kills Children

Anna Laurel

Family and friends standing by Aref Mohamed, and struggle with the loss of 3 small children.

Police arrested Aref Kareem Mohamed, the father of three children killed in a head on collision in Madera County.  CHP says the Chrysler van Mohamed was driving lost control and crashed into a Toyota Corolla.  The three children in the van, six–year–old twins Ahmaed and Gahassan Mohamed, as well as their 3–year–old sister Fatima, were killed.

Mohamed faces three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, three counts of willful cruelty to a child, one count of driving while under the influence causing bodily injury, and one count of being under the influence of a controlled substance.

"I was just crying all night last night," says Ali Mohsin. 

He says he and Aref Mohamed have been friends for years.  He was just with the family this weekend.  He describes Aref as a loving involved father.

Mohsin says, "He's so caring and loving to be honest with you.  I know he's caring to other people who aren't even part of his family so imagine how he was with his kids."

Today no children play around their Firebaugh home.  The twin boys' 1st grade classmates write notes to their lost friends.  Ahmaed, on the left, was 'Student of the Month' in October.

Their principal, Ana Maria Fuentes says,  "What I most remember about him was a smile.  He had a very bright smile, very friendly."

California Highway Patrol says while Aref was wearing a seat belt in yesterday's head on collision, Ahmed, Gahassan, and their 3 year old sister were not.

CHP Officer Joseph Miller says, "Whenever you go to a fatal collision, it's a tragic incident.  It's definitely something that's hard to swallow when you see three young children who lost their lives needlessly because they weren't wearing their seatbelts."

Now with charges that Aref was intoxicated and under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the crash, those who know him, cannot believe it.

Mohsin adds, "I was shocked.  I was crying to be honest with you.  I started to cry.  This guy was a victim of an accident."

His friend Ali says there has to be an explanation.

He says, "He's losing his kids right in front of him and he was shocked and totally out of control after the incident.  He couldn't believe what was happening and they victimize him again saying all these charges which are not true.  We've been knowing him for years and he's not been near these alcohol or substances."

And he says his community will support him, "We have hundreds of people that came and went to see him and that heard the incident and they're all sticking with him and want to be with him.  Trying to mourn him and his wife."