BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — A Treasure Valley family is healing after two daughters were hurt and two others were killed in a car crash in Boise on May 7.
Sammi and Maddi Swenson, along with their friend Ava Sawyer, were driving through North Five Mile Road and West McMillan Road when they collided with a car speeding through that intersection.
Ava died on the scene. Sammi and Maddi suffered serious injuries.
Sammi is now out of the hospital and doing much better. Maddi remains in a rehab facility.
Investigating officers tell the Swenson family that the accident was not Sammi's fault.
"Watching my sister recover is such a blessing, but also it's so difficult," Sammi said. "There's a whole other aspect to it where it affects your life. Really just having people think about us and having us in their thoughts is one of the biggest things."
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic made things even more difficult for the Swenson family. Visits to the hospital are limited. The girls' parents, Dyanna and Matt, have to follow strict protocols.
"The nurse said that if this had happened like a week ago, that probably would have been the case for us, not to be able to be with either of them," Dyanna said. "So we were grateful for that."
As news of the crash spread, the family began receiving an outpouring of love from the local and global community.
"We got a message from Italy," Matt said. "Someone we had never met went into an Italian Catholic church and lit a candle for eight hours for our daughters."
Maddi has a message for people in similar situations.
"I just think it's a super-hard experience but if you surround yourself with the right people, you can get through it," Maddi said.
Doctors aren't sure when Maddi will be able to return home. The Swensons said all they can do in the meantime is pray.
The Swensons extended condolences to the family of the driver of the other car who also died in the crash.
The Swensons have a GoFundMe page available for anyone who would like to donate to the girls' recovery.
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