Loved ones of the fifth person who died from his injuries sustained in the May 3 crash at the LynnWay Auto Auction in Billerica, Massachusetts, are speaking out.
According to the Middlesex County District Attorney's office, 55-year-old Ruben Espaillat of Methuen died from his injuries at Lahey Hospital on Saturday.
Espaillat's sister, Miriam Matos, described his family as "devastated" by his passing.
"We weren't expecting this, his leaving us," she said. "We thought he was going to recuperate."
She said this time was bittersweet for the family because his twin grandchildren were born the day after he died.
"He was expecting" to be a grandfather, she said. "He was very happy, and had a lot of plans for the future."
Four people had previously died in connection to the accident, when an employee lost control of a Jeep Grand Cherokee and drove into the LynnWay building and the crowd inside.
Brenda Lopez, 48, and Pantaleon Santos, 49, both of Rhode Island, died at the scene. Thirty-six-year-old Leezandra Aponte of Lowell died from her injuries later that day.
Elliott Rowlands Jr., 50, succumbed to his injuries at Lahey Clinic on May 10, a week after the accident.
Seven others were hospitalized.
Espaillat's death comes just days after the auto auction company held a prayer service to honor the other victims in the crash.
The employee who was driving the Jeep Grand Cherokee at the time of the accident has previously told us the vehicle "took off all by itself."
The driver, who is not being named by NBC Boston, had a suspended license at the time of the crash, but said he had no idea of his status.
Local
In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area.
"I'm very upset, and very unhappy and very, very sorry about what happened and who got hurt," he told us.
