Fifty-five-year-old construction company owner James Gerace Jr. and 14-year-old Daniel Critser, a freshman at Kelseyville High School, died in the fire at a campground near Trinidad in Humboldt County early on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 20, as Lake County News has reported.
Gerace heroically helped his fiancée, Michelle Critser, and her 4-year-old son David get out through a window after the vehicle caught fire.
Before Gerace could evacuate Daniel and himself from the vehicle it exploded. Fire investigators reported finding Gerace’s remains slumped against a rear side window, cradling Daniel’s body in his lap.
Little David is in serious condition at Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento, where he is undergoing skin grafts and other treatments.
Family friends said rehabilitation may take months and his mother, Michelle Critser, needs to be at his side during that period, which will be a costly undertaking.
Friends and relatives have created the Critser-Gerace Memorial Fund to help defray expenses.
The fund was set up at WestAmerica Bank, 150 S. Main St. in Lakeport, however, any WestAmerica branch in Clearlake, Kelseyville, Middletown or Upper Lake also can accept contributions.
The account number for the donations account is 121140218-2352175851.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .