PORTLAND, Ore. — A family is mourning two teenagers and two adults killed this month in a crash on Highway 18 near McMinnville.
On April 10, Oregon State Police said Huy Nguyen, 46, was driving his mother and teenaged children near milepost 49. His sedan left its lane and collided head-on with a motorhome.
All four people inside the car died, including Vam Tran, 86, Philip Nguyen, 19, and Etana Nguyen, 13.
Police said it was not clear why the car veered into oncoming traffic.
The people in the motorhome were unhurt.
A candlelit alter now sits in the living room of Sadylen Nguyen's home, showing photos of her children Etana and Phillip.
"They're really good kids," she said through tears before the funeral Tuesday. "Really strong kids until the end."
"Really hard," added Sadylen's cousin Maricris Blount. "Sometimes we're okay, sometimes not okay."
The family said Etana was about to turn 14 in May and was recently selected for a viola scholarship to take a trip to Los Angeles.
"She worked so hard on it," Sadylen said. "It's like torture, that they're no longer here."
Philip was in his first year of university, working to pursue nursing, like his mom.
Money is pouring in on a GoFundMe page, hosted by Sadylen's coworkers at Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
The family thanked the many people, including strangers, who have reached out in support.
"Dropping off food, flowers, donations," Sadylen described. "This is a mother's worst nightmare, but it's worse if I had to grieve alone, and everybody's grieving with me, and I appreciate everybody."