Condolences poured in after a Michigan family of five, including a well-known doctor, were killed in a fiery crash caused by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 75 in Kentucky.
The pickup truck driver, who was traveling the wrong way, was identified as Lee Bailey, 41, of Georgetown, Kentucky.
Bailey was also killed in the crash.
Officials suspect he was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but the coroner said toxicology results are still pending in the case.
Witness Kenneth DeGraaf said the pickup truck was coming toward him before to the crash.
Rana Abbas Taylor, the director of communications for ACCESS and who is the sister of Dr. Rima Abbas, told the Detroit Free Press: “We remain in shock and we are beyond devastated.”
Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell wrote on Twitter: “Devastated by the tragic loss of the Abbas family. My thoughts and prayers are with their family and our community as we mourn. They gave so much to our community and were good friends of John and I.”
Habib Abbas of Dearborn, a cousin of the father, said when he heard the news, he thought it was a rumor.
“I thought it was a rumor or something and then saw it again and called her sister. She and the family are even more in denial,” Abbas said, CBS reported.
“You don’t expect a whole family to get wiped out,” he added. “You think to yourself ‘What’s the worst case scenario?’ and that’s it.”
David Wood, the Beaumont Health chief medical officer, called their deaths tragic. Dr. Abbas worked for the company.
“(Dr. Abbas) was a caring mother and a dedicated family practice physician. Our hearts go out to all of her family, friends, and patients during this difficult time,” he told the paper.
It was the second crash in under a week along Interstate 75 after a truck crashed into a van near Gainesville, Florida, killing seven people. Five children died in the wreck.