MAX HERNANDEZ - 7 yo (2010) - Chandler AZ

There's new information about a father and son who were killed in a
car crash. 7-year-old Max Hernandez and his father Conrad were
reported missing last Friday. Their bodies were found by their car
Sunday night in a ravine near the Sunset Point rest area. According
to a report from the Chandler police, officers received a call last
Friday afternoon from Conrad Hernandez's wife. She told them her
47-year-old husband and their 7-year-old son Max were missing.
Conrad had driven off in a red Mazda Friday morning, but never
dropped his son off at school. She added that about two years
ago, Conrad had expressed thoughts about suicide and had an elaborate
plan to jump off the second-floor balcony of a theater in New York
City. Hernandez drove to New York, but did not attempt suicide. Chandler
police had AT&T track Conrad's cell phone and located it in the
area of I-17 near Sunset Point. A Department of Public Safety unit
drove to the area, but didn't see Conrad's car. A family friend
told police that about a week and a half ago, Conrad approached her and
asked her to borrow $1,700 and he thought things would be better if he
were dead. On Sunday, a Yavapai County dispatcher recalled
getting a 9-1-1 call on Friday from a man saying he was in a red Mazda,
had run off the road and was severely injured and unable to move. A
DPS helicopter flew over the area and spotted the car in a steep
ravine. Conrad and his son Max were both dead. Max Hernandez was a
child with autism who attended Chrysalis Academy in Tempe. He was
excelling there and was on a path to transfer to an elementary school.
On Monday night, there was a candlelight vigil at the school.
Classes were canceled on Tuesday so parents and staff members could have
time to grieve and talk to their children about Max's death.

911 call released after father, son found dead in wreck
CHANDLER, AZ – A Chandler father who was found dead with his 7-year-old son on Sunday called 911 on Friday to report the car wreck that reportedly caused their deaths.

Officials have released 911 tapes detailing the call Conrad Hernandez made Friday to report the car wreck that authorities would not discover until two days later.


http://www.abc15.com/content/news/southeastvalley/chandler/story/911-call-released-after-father-son-found-dead-in/7TkoFDrRAkul5r_6524-qg.cspx

Written by Maile Hernandez (Max's Mom)

"Since I lost Max, I’ve had in the back of my mind that I will of course have another child someday.

But you know, maybe I won’t.

Frankly, I am really worried about bringing an innocent person into this world, where the issues of the adults around them impact their lives. My son lost his life because of his father’s issues. And everyone’s got ‘em. And of course, they hide the biggest ones. I’ve had some recent reminders of that, yet again.

I don’t trust anyone anymore. How can I know that I’ll surround my child with the right people when you don’t ever really know anyone?

I also don’t know if I trust myself to parent. I was a good mom to Max. But it didn’t come easy, and that was before I was all traumatized, as I have been from The Tragedy. I wonder if I’d have the strength. Maybe I would, but maybe I wouldn’t. Is “maybe” enough to commit to bringing somebody up from birth to adulthood? I just feel like in order to deal with raising a child, you really need to be mentally squared away and in solid emotional condition. I don’t know if I’m there, or when I’ll get there."

http://www.mailehernandez.com/

Report released in death of Chandler dad, son
Updated: 4:13 pm, Tue Sep 21, 2010.

An accident report by the Arizona Department of Public Safety indicates a Chandler father called authorities before driving his car off a cliff north of Black Canyon City last May.

DPS officers and paramedics responded May 7 after 47-year-old Conrad Hernandez called 911 and said he had been in a car wreck and could not move. The officers searched and could find no skid marks or broken guardrails to indicate a car had left the highway.

On May 9th, a DPS helicopter returned to the scene and found the wreckage in a ravine near Sunset Point.

The belief that Hernandez called authorities gave some credence to a theory Hernandez and his son might have lived if investigators had acted more quickly.

A Yavapai County medical examiner's report indicates Hernandez and his son both died upon impact.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/chandler/article_6297239c-c58b-11df-af88-001cc4c03286.html