Pastor and three sons killed in car crash following Bible college graduation

Pastor Israel Avelar's wife and daughter remain in critical condition.

Pastor Israel Avelar and his family were the victims of a horrific car crash that left four dead and three in critical condition.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Following Pastor Avelar's commencement exercises in Insituto Biblico Bautista Libertad, the Freedom Baptist Bible Institute, for Pastoral Theology and Christian Leadership on Friday, May 20, his family piled into the family's GMC Savana.

According to The Christian Post, the driver, 17-year-old Kevin Avelar, slowed for a car turning into a home from Highway 315 when the Savana was struck from behind hard enough to push the vehicle into the path of an 18-wheeler.

KGAS reporter Blake Holland told WKYT: "When I got on scene what I initially saw was quite a mess of an accident; probably the worst I've ever seen, several fatalities and several people injured and a lot of the vehicles that were involved you couldn't even really make out what kind of vehicles they were before the accident happened."

Pastor Avelar and his three sons, Kevin, 14-year-old Daniel and 6-year-old Matthew were killed in the accident.

Hilda, Pastor Avelar's wife, and Kimberly, their 11-year-old daughter, remain in critical condition.

Doctors attempted a facial reconstruction surgery on Hilda but were forced to stop when her injuries proved to be too difficult to handle for anyone other than a specialist.

Since the attempt, Pastor Jeff Fugate of Clays Mill Road Baptist Church confirmed Hilda's condition has been improving.

Pastor Fugate also reported Pastor Avelar's mother, who was also in the vehicle, was injured but is expected to recover.

Though the story is a heartbreaking one, the family's one consolation is Bibiann's, the eldest daughter, health. She was unable to attend the graduation and was not involved in the wreck.

Pastor Fugate said she traveled to be with her family.

In a Facebook statement, the Freedom Baptist Church wrote: "God makes no mistakes. 3 years ago, Pastor Israel avelar [sic] decided to join the programme of distance education of our institute. [He] Finished [sic] the program and last Friday he received his diploma in pastoral theology.

"Saturday, [when he left] to return to his home in Lexington, God took him to his presence with their three children in a car accident. Please continue praying for the SR. Hilda, the family avelar [sic], and the Bible Baptist Temple of Lexington."

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