Friends, family still reeling from loss of I-75 crash victims

CTV Windsor: Gina Chung on the I-75 victims They are being remembered as angels, two young lives lost far too soon in a crash on a Detroit freeway.

They are being remembered as angels, two young lives lost far too soon.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed nine-year-old Gabrielle Greenwood of Amherstburg and her seven-year-old step-brother, Aidan Hicks of Windsor died in a crash on Interstate-75 last Thursday.

The tragedies have personally affected CTV Windsor weather specialist Arms Bumanlag, a close family friend.

“Aidan I taught how to draw Batman and showed him how to paint, we used to play video games. Gabby used to joke around that I was her boyfriend," says Bumanlag.

The news of last week's collision rocked inner circles. Bumanlag says he took it hard.

“It felt like somebody took a fist and rammed it into my stomach," he says.

The family of five was en route to Ohio Thursday when heavy snow squalls and white out conditions blanketed the interstate. Nearly 40 cars and transport trucks piled on top of each other in six separate collisions.

Their mother Kim Barrett remains in a Detroit hospital. The children's father, Glen Greenwood suffered non-life threatening injuries.

On Monday, the family posted a Facebook video of their 10-year-old daughter, who is recovering at children's hospital in Detroit.

“The whole family has been centred around the basis of being a family and to have this happen I can't even begin to fathom what they're going through," says Bumanlag.

Many other friends and family members are still reeling from the news.

“Hearing about this tragedy hits so close to home and I can't even imagine, it's so absolutely devastating," says Ioana Aboumitri, who also knew the family. “Whenever I saw posts on Facebook or pictures, it was always the three children."

With U.S. medical bills to factor in, messages are pouring in wondering how the community can pitch in and help. A pasta dinner fundraiser is scheduled at Average Joe's this Thursday on Lauzon Road at 6 p.m.