Both mom and daughter were declared dead on the spot. The truck driver was rushed to the hospital to be treated for his injuries. An update on his condition is yet to be released.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on August 19, 2021. It has since been updated.
Emma Nutter, 18, and her mom Rebecca Haslemann, 50, were traveling on Highway 95 in Malheur County, Oregon, heading towards the Boise State University campus. Haslemann was going along with her daughter Nutter, to help her move into the campus. This was supposed to be her first year of college, one that would open a window of opportunities for her, four years later.
Unfortunately, while they were on their way to the school on August 13, 2021, they met with an accident around 11:45 am. According to PEOPLE, their van collided with a semi-truck pulling a loaded cargo trailer.
In a press release, state troopers shared, "Preliminary investigation revealed an International semi-truck pulling a loaded cargo trailer, operated by Eric Murwanashyaka (22) of Abilene, TX., collided with a Honda Odyssey van operated by Rebecca Haselmann (50) of Santa Clara, CA."
KTVB 7 reports that the semi-truck, driven by Murwanashyaka, was southbound on the highway when it crossed into the northbound lane and collided with the van that Nutter and Haslemann were in. Both mom and daughter were pronounced dead at the scene, and the truck driver was rushed to the hospital to be treated for his injuries. An update on his condition is yet to be released.
In a GoFundMe set up to raise money for funeral and other expenses, family members of the deceased wrote that they "lost two wonderful women to an unfortunate car crash on Friday, August 13th."
Had a tragedy happen to our family over the weekend, not everyone is in a spot to donate but sharing goes a long way https://t.co/mmGhmtmfwf
— trevor (@Tbettis16) August 17, 2021
They were "on the way to move Emma into her dorm at Boise State University," read the description, adding that "Emma was an outgoing and vibrant friend, sister, cousin, niece, and overall amazing person. She lived each day to the fullest and touched so many people’s hearts."
Along with being a wonderful mother, aunt, and wife, "Rebecca Haslemann was a teacher and friend," too. "She treated every student and friend as if they were her own child."
"Both Emma and Rebecca always had positive attitudes, bright smiles, and an unforgettable, courageous laugh," shared the grieving family. "They will be missed by all who were lucky enough to have felt the warmth of their personalities."
On August 16, 2021, in a statement, Boise State University wrote: "Boise State is saddened by the tragic loss of first year student Emma Nutter, and her mother Rebecca Haslemann, who died in a vehicle collision while traveling to Boise for school. We are grateful to the first responders in Malheur County, Oregon, who responded to the accident."
Boise State is saddened by the tragic loss of first year student Emma Nutter, and her mother Rebecca Haselmann, who died in a vehicle collision while traveling to Boise for school. We are grateful to the first responders in Malheur County, Oregon, who responded to the accident. pic.twitter.com/3fgJZMyin4
— Boise State University (@BoiseState) August 16, 2021
References:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/family-of-emma-nutter-and-rebecca-hasleman?utm_source
Cover Image Source: GoFundMe | Family of Emma Nutter and Rebecca Haslemann