Catholic community aids victims of wrong-way I-75 crash, asks for support

Fund set up to pay for funeral, medical expenses for family after July 28 crash left four people dead, one in critical condition

ROYAL OAK — The Catholic community is asking for prayers and support on behalf of a local family devastated by a wrong-way crash on Interstate 75 in the early morning hours of July 28 that left four people dead and one critically injured.

According to news reports, a wrong-way vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-75 near 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak struck a vehicle carrying a husband and wife and both of their fathers, instantly killing the three men in the vehicle and leaving the woman, Maria Argüello, with severe injuries.

Killed in the crash were Suriel Galvan-Argüello, 34, of Troy, his father, Celerino Galvan-Martinez, 54, and Argüello’s father, Antonio Martinez-Saldivar, 71. The two older men were from Mexico.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle, Adam Quillen, 29, also died. Authorities are continuing to investigate the crash.

Michigan State Police, Royal Oak Police and the Royal Oak Fire Department responded to the scene.

The family was en route to the airport, where one of the older men had an early morning flight back to Mexico after visiting family in Michigan, Deacon Aaron Poyer, chaplain to the Michigan State Police, told Detroit Catholic.

Deacon Poyer said he responded to a call from Michigan State Police troopers early Sunday morning at the scene of the crash and helped notify surviving family members, who include the widow of Galvan-Martinez and the younger couple’s two children, a 14-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter, who are now facing unimaginable grief and uncertainty, he said.

“Family members rushed to Michigan, and fortunately many family members are now together here and supporting each other,” Deacon Poyer said. “A priest came to the hospital to anoint Maria in the presence of family members on Monday.”

Argüello faces a difficult recovery that could take weeks or months, other family members told local media.

Members of the Catholic community are rallying around the family in their time of need. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Chas. Verheyden Funeral Homes of Clinton Township, which has set up a fund to assist with funeral expenses, as well as medical expenses as Argüello continues to recover in the weeks and months ahead.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been set.

Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan has offered to provide grief support counseling to the family, said Paul Propson, CEO of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan.

"Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan grieves with the family and the entire community for the tragic loss of life caused by the accident last week," Propson said. "Our therapists are available to provide counseling to Maria and her children, and we have asked Deacon Poyer to assure the family that we are standing by to help in any way they need.

"We encourage anyone similarly affected by the sudden death of a loved one to seek the assistance of a Catholic Charities counselor and to never let fear of cost be an impediment to healing," Propson added.

Deacon Poyer said the Galvan and Martinez families, who are Catholic, are “overwhelmed” by the support of the Catholic community and others in the Detroit area and are grateful for the love and prayers.