The family of newlyweds Will and Jamie Reid just celebrated the couple's wedding three months ago. Now they will gather again this weekend to mourn the loss of the couple, killed in a weekend car crash in Asheville, N.C.
"The whole life history of your child runs past you in a very brief period of time. It's a terrible thing," said Anne Reid, Will's mother.
Will and Jamie Reid were visiting Asheville to celebrate a friend's wedding. The couple was riding in the back of a Lincoln Town Car, on the way to the Asheville Regional Airport early Sunday afternoon, when the limousine driver went down an embankment and hit a large tree.
Will's family describes the moment they were told about the crash. "We were all in the same room at the same time. Thank God we had each other. That's what you do. You fall together and we stayed physically attached to each other for the rest of the night," said Reid.
PHOTO COURTESY: Asheville Citizen-Times/CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
Besides losing the couple, the Reid family says they also lost a grandchild. Jamie was pregnant when she was killed on impact. Will died a short time later at Mission Hospital.
Both Will, 26, and Jamie, 25, were teachers in Philadelphia. Jamie worked at Harrity Elementary, a Mastery Charter School. Some of her former students have been writing to NBC10, describing her as "one of the best teachers they ever had," who was always there to give advice or help with anything they needed.
Will taught math at People for People Charter School. "They were really just perfect for each other. They really were at the top of their game. They were cut short in their efforts but they really were in a great place," said James Reid, Will's father.
Rodney Koon, the limousine driver who was driving the couple to the airport, survived the crash. He's being treated at Mission Hospital for his injuries.
Asheville Police issued warrants to search the Lincoln Town Car and according to Asheville's Citizen Times, a digital recording device from the car was seized that could shed more light on what caused the crash and if Koon will be charged.
A memorial service for the couple will be held on August 17 at the Doyle-Devlin Funeral Home in Phillipsburg, N.J.
"He would so disappointed if I stopped my life because of something like this. As would Jamie. He'd probably beat me up for crying too much. I just have to keep thinking about the Will that I knew," said Leslie Reid, Will's younger sister.
Contact Lauren DiSanto at 610.668.5705, lauren.disanto@nbcuni.com
Photo Credit: Facebook Photo