FRUITLAND, Idaho — A family is left mourning the loss of a family member after a police chase Saturday night ended with the death of a 19-year-old and 16-year-old in Fruitland.
On the corner of Elmore Road and Highway 30, the family placed a picture of the 16-year-old and the mother, Ondrea Ellis, said she only takes this route on occasion.
"I realized, as I was driving out here today, I never actually take the exit unless we're getting ready to go to Hells Canyon," Ellis said. "Which is a place for us to go camping a lot as a family."
Now, unfortunately, this road leads Ellis to a sorrowful place.
"I've never felt grief like this, and none of our family has, honestly and so it's going to be just different," Ellis said. "I feel like each time we come here, it's going to be heavy, really heavy."
The Payette County Sheriff's Office said this was not the way they wanted the chase to end.
"Your concern is always to bring the pursuit to a safe end, where the vehicle stops, and we're able to apprehend the driver of the vehicle," said Andy Creech, the Payette County Sheriff.
Police said the 19-year-old driver was speeding and turned off the car's headlights during the night chase.
"It's really tragic that we didn't have an opportunity to do anything different to change the outcome," Creech said
Ellis told KTVB that her daughter had run away, and she hadn't seen her for over a month.
"When you go to sleep at night, and you don't know where your baby is, you literally dream, like have nightmares of this exact moment happening," Ellis said.
However, she feels fortunate to get the closure that many families in her position never get.
"Some parents still have their kids missing, and they've never got them home," Ellis said. "So, in a way, I'm thankful that I was given the opportunity to know where my baby left this earth."
So, to honor her daughter, Ellis and her family have a memorial at the crash site.
"Now, whenever we go camping, we'll have to make sure we stopped by here and give a little token of respect," Ellis said. "We'll have an extra stop on every camping trip now.
The family held a candlelight vigil Wednesday night and were joined by community members to mourn the loss of this young girl.
There is a GoFundMe page for the family to help with the funeral and other expenses.
There is also a GoFundMe page for the family of the 19-year-old driver of the car.
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