A family in Louisiana have said their ‘lives are shattered’ after three siblings tragically died in a car crash just eight days before Christmas.
Lindy Simmons, 20, Christopher Simmons, 17, and Kamryn Simmons, 15, were killed on Friday 17 December when a car came down the wrong way of a highway and crashed into them.
Lindy had been driving her siblings, mother Dawn and her brother’s girlfriend Marissa to their St Landry Parish home after Christopher’s basketball game in Monroe.
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Police have identified the driver of the other car as John Lundy, 54, who is alleged to have been driving north in the southbound lanes when he struck the Simmons’ vehicle head-on.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, along with Lindy. Kamryn and Christopher were rushed to hospital but succumbed to their injuries, while Dawn and Marissa remain in a critical condition.
Louisiana State Police said: “The initial investigation revealed Lundy was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Colorado pickup north in the southbound lanes of I-49.
“Lindy Simmons was driving a 2017 Cadillac XT5 SUV south on I-49. The vehicles struck head-on in the left lane.
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“Kamryn and Christopher Simmons were transported to local hospitals where they ultimately succumbed to their injuries. Two other passengers in the SUV were also transported and remain in critical condition.
“Standard toxicology samples were obtained from both drivers; results are pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. This crash remains under investigation.”
The force added: “In one night the lives of several families have changed forever due to preventable circumstances. Over and over again, Troopers see the tragic consequences of preventable motor vehicle crashes.
“The Louisiana State Police urges motorists to have a plan in place that includes always wearing your seat belt, never driving distracted or tired, and having a designated driver or an alternate ride home when consuming alcohol.
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"Please choose to not drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver.”
A fundraiser has now been set up for the family to help to support the Simmons family as they undergo surgery and make funeral arrangements.
So far, it has raised more than $597,000 (£447,000), with a goal of $750,000 (£562,000).
The fundraiser is being organised by Katie DeRouen, who is the second of the Simmons family’s nine children.
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Katie wrote: “Our lives our shattered. My parents lived for us. Everything they did in life was for the benefit of their children. We went from our ‘big family of 9 kids’ to 6 kids in the blink of an eye. I don’t know how we will ever move on or recover from this.”
She added: “We are crushed. We are empty. We are devastated. We are in disbelief. We are hurting. We don’t know how we will ever find joy in anything again.”
A later update, shared by ‘a relative who grew up next door’ to the family, said Dawn was ‘still in a lot of pain’.
The family had planned to break the news of her children’s deaths once she was stable and out of intensive care, but this changed when she became ‘more coherent and kept asking questions’.
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Marissa, who is 16, has had surgery on her leg and ‘it went well’, but is ‘obviously heartbroken’.
The update continued: “While these past few days may have been the worst days of their lives, please remember that the funerals haven’t happened yet, and their first Christmas without Lindy, Chris, and Kamryn will soon be here. Their Christmas gifts are still wrapped under the tree waiting for them.
“So Katie is still asking for your prayers…real, actual prayers. For those who commented or messaged saying that you were praying, please REALLY send a prayer up on their behalf. They need it. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.”
You can find out more about the fundraiser for the family here.
Featured Image Credit: GoFundMeTopics: US News