Vigil held for mother and 2-year-old daughter killed in Fresno County crash

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Candles and flowers blanketed the country of Walnut and Jefferson Thursday night, arsenic household and friends gathered for a vigil to retrieve Samantha and Elena Kellogg.

The parent and girl were killed successful a clang connected Wednesday morning.

"Those 2 were inseparable, they wouldn't abstracted for nothing," said Samantha's Uncle, Jerry Santiago.

He led the vigil of much than 50 people, telling america the turnout was a testament to the beingness she lived.

"Everybody's here, everyone she knew is here. And you can't inquire for thing more, it conscionable shows you however overmuch she touched successful her young life," Santiago said.

RELATED: Mother and 2-year-old girl killed successful Fresno County clang identified

The household is successful mourning now, but the absorption volition displacement to making definite Samantha's hubby and 4 young boys near behind, consciousness loved this vacation season.

And done the sorrow, Santiago giving acknowledgment to the bully Samaritans who jumped into action.

"They're the ones that helped, they tried to bash their champion to prevention Elena, they tried to bash their champion to assistance Samantha," helium said.

One of those "first responders" was Jennifer Wettlaufer who told america she and her parent ran extracurricular aft proceeding the clang from their location conscionable crossed the street.

"We would privation it done for us. I would anticipation that if it was maine successful that situation, that someone's gonna travel to my aid," Wettlaufer said.

Wettlaufer says she spent astir 15 minutes tending to 2-year-old Elena, who was partially ejected from the car, earlier archetypal responders arrived.

Officers accidental she was not successful a car seat.

Neighbors archer Action News the crashes successful this country are unluckily common, leaving her asking however galore much lives indispensable beryllium mislaid earlier a alteration is made.

"There would person been nary crash, everyone would've went connected with their day, we wouldn't beryllium having this if we had 1 much halt sign," Wettlaufer said.

For now, Thursday's vigil volition person to service arsenic a stark reminder of the risks that remain.

"The household loves her, we're gonna miss Samantha and Elena, but that's okay, we person her successful our hearts," Santiago said.

The household is accepting donations for ceremonial expenses, and they accidental immoderate leftover wealth volition beryllium enactment distant and saved for Samantha's 4 sons.