Father and son arrested in connection with California crash that killed four

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. -- A father and son have been arrested in connection with a deadly crash that killed four people in Madera County earlier this month.

The two were identified as 43-year-old Thomas Wood Sr. and 21-year-old Thomas Wood Jr.

The arrests brought some relief to the families of those killed, including relatives of Pedro Chavez and his teenage son, Pedro, who were among the four victims.

"It was very shocking," said family member Aylin Cisneros.

"Especially because it's a father and son and we lost a father and son," she said.

Cisneros said her family is relieved by the arrests but believes the legal process is only beginning.

"I feel like this is just the beginning. This is just one piece of what's to come for justice to be served, not only for my uncle Pedro and my baby Pedrito, but for the other two gentlemen that were in the car that lost their lives," Cisneros said.

Investigators are now working to complete a formal report that will be submitted to the District Attorney.

According to authorities, Wood Sr. is currently booked into jail on four counts of murder and several firearms-related charges. Wood Jr. faces four accessory counts.

The father-son duo is believed to have been in a black GMC Sierra pickup that the California Highway Patrol said went through a stop sign and collided with a Honda CRV at the intersection of Road 9 and Avenue 21.

One person survived the crash and was airlifted from the scene. Family members said the survivor remains at Community Regional Medical Center and suffered severe injuries, including broken ribs.

The victims were returning home from a dove hunting trip when the crash occurred.

As the investigation continues, family members said they are still searching for answers about what happened that night.

"You kind of have to try and guess what happened that night because we don't actually know and it's really, really, painful," Cisneros said.

ABC affiliate KFSN learned that Wood Sr. has a criminal background. In 2004, he faced several charges, including felony kidnapping, in connection with a domestic violence case.

For the families of those who died, the arrests mark what they hope is a step toward justice, even as they continue to grieve.

"We're still not believing it. We're still in shock. We were able to lay them to the rest. For us, that was just a small part of the recovery process that we're all going to be there for each other," Cisneros said.

Both the father and son remain behind bars; their bail set at $4 million each.