A mum and her two daughters have been killed in a fiery wrong-way crash while returning home from a concert celebrating the youngest girl’s upcoming birthday.
Vanessa Wetmore, 41, Kylie, 20, and Kloie, 16, died after their car became engulfed in flames.
The family had spent the evening at a concert in Fresno, California, ahead of Kloie turning 17.
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But they never made it home.
Kloie’s birthday fell four days after the crash – the same day her surviving brother Seth turned 16, as reported by Need To Know.
Kylie was driving the family’s 2022 Honda Accord, with her mum and younger sister travelling as passengers.
The California Highway Patrol said a 2019 BMW 530i was heading north in the southbound lanes of Highway 99 near Bakersfield.
The collision also involved a 2022 Chevrolet Colorado.
The impact caused the Wetmore family’s Honda to become engulfed in flames.
Vanessa and her daughters died at the scene.
CHP later identified the driver of the BMW as Jamie Rodriguez, 44, of Tulare.
He suffered major injuries and was taken to hospital.
Two people travelling in the Chevrolet sustained minor injuries.
The crash happened shortly after midnight on Sunday, 16 August, north of Seventh Standard Road.
Investigators are continuing to examine the collision, including where the BMW entered the highway and whether drugs or alcohol played a role.
No criminal charges had been filed in connection with the crash as of Wednesday, 26 August.
A GoFundMe established to cover funeral expenses and support Seth has raised $87,084 (£64,500) from more than 960 donations.
An update shared by organiser Dale Schoettler said the support would allow Seth to focus on grieving without worrying about his immediate future.
Dale wrote: “We truly cannot put into words how grateful we are for the incredible amount of love and support that has been shown to our family.
“Because of all of you, Seth will be able to give his family the services they deserve and honor Vanessa, Kloie and Kylie in the way they deserve to be honored.
“That alone takes an enormous weight off his shoulders during a time when he should not have to worry about anything other than grieving and being surrounded by the people who love him.”
The family hope the fundraiser will provide him with some stability as he faces a future without his mum and sisters.
Dale added: “There is no amount of money that can make any of this okay, but the support this community has given Seth and his family means more than we could ever explain.”
Vanessa, Kylie and Kloie had travelled to Fresno to see Thee Sacred Souls, La Lom and The Womack Sisters perform.
The evening had been planned as an early celebration of Kloie’s 17th birthday.
The fundraiser said: “What should have been a weekend filled with memories and a celebration of Kloie turning 17 has instead left a family trying to comprehend the loss of a mother and her two daughters all at once.
“There are simply no words for the magnitude of this loss or for what this family is facing in the days, weeks, and months ahead.”
It added: “Vanessa, Kloie, and Kylie were so much more than the three lives mentioned in a news story.
“They were a mom, daughters, sisters, family and friends who were deeply loved and who should have made it home that night.”
Kloie was a senior at Centennial High School in Bakersfield and a member of its Golden Hawks softball team.
The team paid tribute to the teenager following her death.
A statement said: “Her presence on and off the field will never be forgotten.
“Kloie will forever be a Golden Hawk.”
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