An Idaho teenager fell asleep at the wheel, causing her to drive off a cliff in an accident that claimed the lives of herself, her father and her two young siblings, according to police.
Divorced dad Calvin Miller, 36, was taking his three kids — Dakota, 17, Jack, 10, and Delilah, 8 — to see their grandfather in hospice care on Saturday when their vehicle plummeted 30 feet into the Salmon River north of the city of Riggins.
Police confirmed Wednesday the tragic accident was likely caused by Dakota falling asleep behind the wheel due to fatigue from the family’s 274-mile trip from their home in Spokane, Washington, to Council, Idaho.
“Dakota drove off the highway, striking a large pile of rocks, sending the vehicle airborne,” the incident report reads.
“The vehicle struck another large pile of rocks, flipping the vehicle over end and landing upside down in the Salmon River.”
Their vehicle was discovered partially submerged by a local fisherman, with police believing the family likely drowned.
Zella Blair, Miller’s ex and the mother of Jack and Delilah, said her family was distraught at the news.
“I don’t know if I can get used to them not coming through the door after school and yelling for me again,” Blair, who was co-parenting her kids with Miller, told KREM2.
“They were huge. They were my whole life.”
The heartbroken mother said she had dropped off Jack and Delilah on Friday to spend the weekend with their dad, and that she was unaware of his plans to visit their grandfather.
Blair said it was Miller’s current partner, Amberlynn Weber, who broke the news to her.
“I feel really bad for Amber, though, because she did lose all four people of her household,” Blair said.
“Even though they weren’t her blood kids, she was always really great to them.”
Scott Henri, Amberlynn’s stepfather, said his kin were also torn apart by the tragedy, describing Miller and his children as a wonderful addition to their own family.
“Calvin was a truly exceptional human being, and we’re lucky to have had the time with him that we did,” Henri told KREM2.
“His kind heart and sensitive soul, not to mention his amazing sense of humor, brought a richness to our lives that can’t be replaced.”
