Neighbors Remember Vollmer Family As 'The Best'

Neighbors to the Vollmer family are still trying to come to grips with the death of their friends.

Neighbors say the Vollmers were the first family on the street to welcome in new families and they were "the perfect example of how to live," friend and neighbor Rene Baartman said.

Friends in their quiet east-side neighborhood are shocked something so tragic could happen to such a nice family.

"They've been such a nice family to be next to. They’ve done things with us. We've done things with them. It’s just hard to imagine they're not here anymore," neighbor Chris Klein said.

"They were the best neighbors you could have," Baartman said.

Baartman's family moved in next door 16 years ago. She says the two families have been friends from the beginning.

"We are stunned right now," Baartman said.

"Just everyone in the family was kind, gentle, friendly. Never an unkind word was spoken about anyone. Just perfect embodiment of a Christian family," Baartman said.

Alyssa's car still sits in the drive way, giving the impression somebody is home. Neighbors say it’s hard to think the Vollmers are not there. But when daughter Brittany, who was away at college when the crash occurred, decides to come home, they say she'll have their support.

"When the time comes that Brittany comes around here, we'll be here the entire time.  Whatever we need to do for her and the family overall," Klein said.

The Vollmers were one of the initial families on the block to start a 4th of July tradition where all their children shot fireworks and then played tag in the dark.