BOISE, Idaho – A Boise State University freshman and her mother died Friday morning when their van collided with a semi-truck in eastern Oregon, authorities said.
Emma Nutter, 18, and her mother, Rebecca Haslemann, 50, both of Santa Clara, California, were killed while driving to the university for the beginning of the school year, KTVB reported.
According to the Oregon State Police, a semi-truck driven by Eric Murwanashyaka, 22, of Abilene, Texas, was traveling southbound at about 11:45 a.m. PDT when it crossed into the northbound lane of U.S. 95, the television station reported.
The truck collided with a Honda Odyssey van driven by Haslemann. The woman and her daughter were pronounced dead at the scene.
Murwanashyaka was taken to the hospital for his injuries, the Sacramento Bee reported.
The university said in a statement that it was “saddened by the tragic loss.”
“Both Emma and Rebecca always had positive attitudes, bright smiles, and an unforgettable, courageous laugh,” according to a GoFundMe page. “They will be missed by all who were lucky enough to have felt the warmth of their personalities.”
