Joan Cortez encountered God’s love in the darkest moments of her life after a joyful family motorcycle ride ended in unimaginable tragedy when a suspected drunk driver crossed the center line, taking the lives of her husband, son and niece.
Joan had recently started riding her own motorcycle after much encouragement from her family, in hopes of using the time together to grow closer with her husband, Dan Cortez Jr. On May 3, 2025, the couple decided to take a trip to Topgolf, inviting their adult son, Cody Cortez. When they arrived at Cody's house, their niece Courtney Cortez was there and decided to ride along, grabbing her helmet and climbing onto the back of Dan's bike.
The family spent the afternoon laughing, teasing each other, and enjoying what Joan now describes as "one of the best days ever."
As they rode home toward Kerrville, Texas, Dan and Courtney rode ahead of Joan while Cody followed behind her. They intentionally surrounded Joan to help keep her safe as a new rider working to gain confidence on her bike.
After exiting the interstate, the group was able to relax a little and enjoy taking the back roads until in an instant, everything changed.
A suspected drunk driver crossed the center line and struck all three motorcycles! Dan, Cody, and Courtney were all killed in the crash.
Joan remembers being thrown into the air and tumbling across the pavement. She heard the impact that struck her son's motorcycle and then an eerie, haunting silence.
"I don't know if it was God protecting me," Joan remembers, "but I couldn't see anything."
Despite suffering severe injuries, including a dislocated hip, a shattered femur and multiple leg fractures, Joan remained conscious. As first responders worked around her, all she could do was repeatedly give them the names and the birth dates of her husband, son, and niece.
In the midst of unimaginable loss, Joan continues to believe that God was already surrounding her.
A deputy she knew through her work in crisis response stayed by her side at the scene, comforting her and shielding her from the information that she was not ready to hear. At the hospital, Joan's twin sister Meghin Atkinson traveled from Ohio to be with her. Friends, family members, and church communities all rallied around her.
One ICU nurse, Pam Cavertino, became a particular source of comfort.
"I just felt safe when she was there," Joan said. "I felt this peace."
God’s presence remained evident when Pam and a hospital social worker worked to ensure Joan could attend the joint funeral service for Dan, Cody and Courtney despite her prolonged hospitalization and unstable medical condition. They arranged for the ambulance transporting Joan from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility to stop at the funeral service, allowing her to attend in person.
Joan thinks often about all the ways that God showed himself to her during the 97 days she spent in the hospital and rehab facility. Once, a stranger entered her room and shared that God had been prompting her to pray for Joan, for the last three days and finally she gave in, not knowing Joan or her circumstances but trusting that God knew what he was doing.
"Let people love you. Reach out to your church. People truly do want to be there and help you." said Joan.
After losing a friend in February 2025, the family had discussed funerals and Joan remembers Dan telling her "When I die, I want people to rejoice, to know I'm in the glory of God." Joan continued: "That gave me comfort. Dan definitely helped me grow in my faith." That faith remains strong today.
Joan is continuing to heal physically and emotionally. She is still facing potential surgeries, and further rehabilitation. As she recovers, she hopes to continue helping her community
Her encouragement to others is simple: "Look for those God moments," said Joan.
