FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – A community is in mourning after a wrong-way crash on the Lodge Freeway killed the parents of six children.
Background: 2 killed, 2 injured in Lodge Freeway crash caused by wrong-way driver fleeing police
“We are all shocked by this news and it was so sad,” said Noriko Earnst. “The saddest news I heard.”
Every Sunday, Ernst plays the piano for mass at Our Lady Sorrow Catholic Church in Farmington and every Sunday she sees Jen and Ryan Ambrosio, along with their half a dozen kids.
“Wonderful people with six children,” Ernst said. “Tiny ones from 9-2, coming one-by-one like ducklings.”
She’ll never forget the moment she learned of Jen and Ryan Ambrosio’s death.
“I was so shocked. I couldn’t think. I was actually trying to just compose myself because I had to play for mass,” Ernst said. “And after the mass, I was kinda stuck thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m not gonna see them anymore.’”
Jen and Ryan we’re both killed in a head on collision involving a wrong-way driver. The driver of the other car was believed to have been trying to get way from law enforcement. Police said he turned off his lights driving in the wrong direction of travel, killing the couple while they were returning from date night.
“Jen and Ryan were such gentle, unassuming, patient just goodness. Everything,” Ernst said. “They were a wonderful model for the entire church family.”
The driver of the other vehicle survived the crash and was taken into custody.