A teen driver dozed off behind the wheel while traveling on a windy Idaho road, sending her vehicle off a cliff and killing everyone inside, including her father and two younger siblings.
The family of four was driving from from Spokane, Wash. to Council, Ida. for a vacation when the tragedy occurred. They were reported missing on Saturday after they failed to arrive at their destination. Their car was later found by a fisherman, partially submerged in the Salmon River, about 150 miles north of Boise.
Everyone inside “succumbed to their injuries,” the Idaho County Coroner said. They have since been identified as 36-year-old Calvin “CJ” Miller and his three children: 17-year-old Dakota, 10-year-old Jack and 8-year-old Delilah.
According to an accident report released by authorities on Thursday, deputies believe Dakota was tired and “fell asleep while driving.”
“Due to this, Dakota, drove off the highway, striking a large pile of rocks sending the vehicle airborne,” the report said. “The vehicle struck another large pile of rocks, flipping the vehicle over end and landing upside down in the Salmon River.”
Deputies said the car fell some 30 feet into into the river where cold water filled the vehicle through the driver’s broken window, which caused the family to drown.
“Our hearts are broken for this family and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time,” the coroner’s office said.