According to the New York Daily News, the family of two adults and three children were en route from Texas to Disney World for a family trip, when the 2005 Chevy Tahoe ran off the Interstate 20 near Calhoun into a median in northeast Louisiana on Wednesday around 10:45pm.
So far the police have only identified the adults as a couple, Michael and Trudi Hardman from Terrell, Texas. The children are respectively ages 4, 7, and 15, and authorities are in the midst of confirming if the couple are the parents.
According to superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, Col. Mike Edmonson, the vehicle rolled over after the driver over-corrected, which resulted in the passengers being ejected from the vehicle. None of the passengers were wearing seat belts, except for the driver.
The driver, who reportedly is the stepson of Trudi, suffered minor injuries, while two passengers suffered moderate injuries.
Based on the toxicology sample taken, authorities believed that the driver might have fallen asleep before the crash.
Disney World in Florida
Daily News reported that the Ouachita Parish coroners pronounced the five family members dead on the scene.
Edmonson also expressed his condolences: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to all of the people affected by this tragic crash. In an instance this family vacation turned into an unspeakable tragedy.”
He went on to add that “crashes like this one don’t just affect the people involved. They affect family members, friends, troopers, first responders and the community at large.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of wearing a seat belt anytime you are in a vehicle."
Family and friends griefs on Facebook wall
Meanwhile, friends and families of the Hardmans have also expressed their grief on Trudi’s Facebook profile page.
From her page, it is apparent that Trudi and her family are enthusiasts of all things Disney. For one, Trudi’s cover photo says “Disney Addict”. This is also evident from the comments left by the family’s friends and relatives.
McKenzie Desirae Titsworth left a comment with a photo of the family on the page, saying “This sweet family traded their Mickey Mouse ears for halos. Fly high Trudi Hardman, Michael Hardman, Dakota Watson, Kaci Hardman, and Adam Hardman...”
Neil Stagner, a relative, also wrote a tribute to the family on Trudi’s page: “Our hearts are broken today as we mourn the loss of Lori and Jeff Wagoner’s cousin, Trudi Wagoner Hardman, her husband Michael Hardman, and three of their six children. Lori had communicated with Trudi just one hour before the crash and we were so looking forward to their trip to Florida to see them all."
Michael is a second-grade teacher, while Trudi is a kindergarten teacher.
Trudi’s colleague, Michelle Caldwell Whatley, commented: “I am sick with sadness as we lost an amazing kindergarten teacher! We were just celebrating her big trip to Disney! She and I were talking about all the great writing we were starting on the Monday after the break about her trip! I’m so sorry for the world’s loss of an amazing lady and educator!”
One of Trudi’s closest friends also grieved over the news: “I’m not sure what to say tonight. I’ve learned that a good friend of mine, Trudi was killed last night in a car accident along with her husband, son and daughter. Please pray for this family, especially her only surviving son, Hunter. Her stepson that she loved as her own was driving. He was only 16... he lived [and] now he has to figure out a way to handle all of this.”
