The community mourns the loss of a Sioux Falls family killed in a car crash Saturday night on I-90.
The father, James Vollmer, his wife Julie and their children 16-year-old Alyssa and 13-year-old Caleb died as a result of that crash.
"Both Caleb and Alyssa had smiles as big as Texas and just a joy to be around. Two kids that you would love your own kids to be friends with. They were wonderful kids," Sioux Falls Christian Superintendent Jay Woudstra said.
The tight-knit school community gathers with pastors and councilors for a time of grieving and remembering the Vollmer family.
"The mom and dad are the salt of the earth and hard working people and just the type of parent we like to work with at Sioux Falls Christian," Woudstra said.
The Vollmer family was killed in Saturday's car crash on Interstate 90 at mile marker 394 just west of Sioux Falls.
Law enforcement says it happened around 5:15 p.m. Their SUV left the roadway, struck a cable guardrail and slid into the median. It then hit an embankment and vaulted before landing in a gully.
Sergeant Steve Swenson with the Highway Patrol was one of the first responders to come upon the crash.
"Just a tragedy. It's probably one of the saddest things I've ever been to," Swenson said.
Swenson says the magnitude of investigating a crash killing parents and two children weighs heavily on law enforcement officers.
"We'll have a debriefing with any agencies involved that want to join and after that if there is any individual officers that need or want counseling the Highway Patrol will provide that," Swenson said.
It is still unknown what caused the SUV to leave the road. Law enforcement says they will continue investigating.
Police say alcohol isn't a factor in the crash and all four people inside the SUV were wearing seatbelts.
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