From Deseret News archives:
Salem grieves for teacher, her 3 children killed in crash
Family remembered as full of laughter and love
The devoted wife, mother of three and fourth-grade teacher was adamant about education, learning and service, says her brother-in-law Doug Halladay.
"She was constantly, daily doing service for somebody," Doug Halladay said. "She's one of the good ones."
That service is just one of hundreds of things family members and friends will miss about Crystal, who was killed in a car accident Wednesday afternoon, along with her three children, Colton, who would have been 9 next week, Annie, 7, and 6-year-old Nick.
The family, sans husband and father Duane Halladay, who stayed home because of work obligations, was on Colorado Highway 92 just west of Hotchkiss, Colo., when their Hyundai Sonata drifted into the oncoming lane and hit a dump truck head-on at 3:23 p.m.
Crystal and the three children were killed instantly, said Colorado State Patrol trooper Michael Baker, who is also a part of the accident reconstruction team. The road was clear and visibility was good but it was quite windy, Baker said.
The Halladays were on their way to visit Crystal's sister during the children's spring break.
"You never plan on that," said Bishop Mark Walker of the Halladays' Salem 9th Ward. Bishop Walker was with the Utah Highway Patrol officers when they broke the news to Duane.
"It dawned on me, this was going to turn Duane's life upside down. But ... their home was always full of laughter, jokes and fun in a very wholesome way (and) Duane seems to be rebounding toward that with encouragement and love from a lot of friends and a lot of family."
Bishop Walker said the tight-knit Salem community is rallying around Duane by mowing his lawn, cleaning windows, bringing in food, donating money for funeral expenses and just talking.
"Everybody loves them," Walker said. "There's nothing but nice things to say about this family. We're planning to be there for (Duane) forever."
Duane's family members, who also live in Utah County, have been amazed by the outpouring of love.
"It's the most incredible thing I've ever seen," Doug Halladay said. "It's like the entire community has been devastated by this, and truly they have, because Crystal has been a teacher for many years in this area."
Crystal taught for 20 years in the Nebo School District at Salem Elementary and Mount Loafer and Larsen elementaries in Spanish Fork.
She taught first, third, fourth and fifth grades, said Salem Elementary principal Ken Van Ausdal.
"Crystal was a fantastic educator," Van Ausdal said. "She was hard-working and dedicated, always very well prepared. Parents have (said it was) like having another mother in the classroom."
