The State - News from Dec. 2, 1986

Four members of a Kern County family, including two boys, burned to death when their car was hit head-on by an out-of-control vehicle. California Highway Patrol investigators said the car driven by Norman Rebeiro, 27, of Maricopa burst into flames after it was struck by a four-wheel-drive vehicle that crossed the center line on California 43 northwest of Layton in southern Fresno County. Investigators said evidence at the scene indicated that the driver of the four-wheel drive vehicle lost control, went onto the shoulder and then over-corrected, causing the vehicle to swerve into oncoming traffic. Rebeiro, his wife, Connie, 25, and their two sons, Michael and Daniel, who coroner’s officials said were both under 10, burned to death inside their car. The driver of the other vehicle, Inez Merlin, 26, and her passenger, Gerardo Nabor, 18, both of Fresno, were hospitalized with major injuries.