Couple, 19, killed in two separate freak car accidents after crashing into the same church just days apart
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe/Sangie Bagwell / WBRC
Two 19-year-olds have died in tragic circumstances within just days of each other.
In the early hours of June 20, a car crashed into a local Baptist church in St. Clair County, Alabama.
Following the crash, the church ended up erupting into flames which quickly spread throughout the entire building.
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"A defensive operation was established as fire had spread quickly throughout the building," Riverside Fire & Rescue Service said in a statement issued on the day of the incident.
"Aerial operations began soon after first arriving units. Crews battled the fire through the entire night and into early dawn.
"The fire is believed to have started from a passenger vehicle leaving the roadway and crashing into the basement of the church. One male was found deceased inside the vehicle."
The person inside the car has since been named as 19-year-old Anthony Banks Jr.
In a tragic twist of fate, his girlfriend died in similar circumstances just days later after also crashing into the same church.
On June 23, Jennefer Arellano-Maldonado smashed into the burnt out church while allegedly trying to evade police in a stolen BMW.
The vehicle is said to have belonged to a family member of Arellano-Maldonado.
The 19-year-old is reported to have driven into a brick wall and the car caught fire.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the wake of their untimely deaths, Banks' family have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the late teenager's funeral.
"Hi we are Anthony's mom, sister and brother we got the heart break devastating news of his passing the morning of Thursday June 20, 2024 when the detectives from sheriff's office pulled up delivering the horrible unbelievable news," the fundraiser's bio begins.
"He was in a horrible accident that took my precious baby boy's life at such a young age he just turned 19 years old 17 days ago.
"His life hadn't even got started before he tragically taken from this world as I write this tears flow uncontrollably praying for this all to be some nightmare we will all wake from soon."
With his death being so sudden, the family said that they 'aren't prepared' for it and are looking to raise $10,000 to put on a 'going away celebration of life he so greatly deserves'.
At the time of writing, $450 has been raised.
UNILAD has contacted Riverside Police Department for comment.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.