Newlywed couple killed in wrong-way crash with alleged drunk driver

A newlywed Texas couple was killed in a wrong-way crash with an alleged drunk driver as they were returning from a reunion with other US Marines they know from their service.

Kristen Huddleston, 35, and her husband, Jared Huddleston, 42, were traveling in their SUV along Chisholm Trail Parkway in Fort Worth shortly after midnight Sunday when they were struck by a car going the wrong way, WFAA reported.

The couple, who are both Marine veterans, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Andrew Adamson, 27, the other driver, was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was placed in police custody.

“He is going to be facing two counts of intoxication manslaughter for the death of the two individuals that were in their vehicle,” Police Officer Jimmy Polozani told NBC 5.

“The victim vehicle was traveling Interstate 30 westbound, attempting to take Chisholm Trail Southbound,” he said. “The suspect vehicle was traveling eastbound on the bridge wrong-way, which resulted in a head-on collision.”

The Huddlestons had been returning from a reunion with other Marines on the night of the head-on collision.

Kristen’s dad, Rafael Ortiz, described her as a caring mom to two daughters who was attending school to become a therapist to help other former Marines transition to civilian life.

The newlywed couple, who both had childen, had moved to Texas to live closer to Ortiz.

“She had so many dreams, aspirations” he told WFAA. “That growing process was great to see, and it was snatched away. It’s hard. It still doesn’t seem real. I just spoke to her four, five hours before.”

Ortiz, who has four adult children, said the couple were on their way home from attending a reunion with other fellow Marines at the time of the accident.

“The excitement of seeing her become that woman you always want your daughter to become… now knowing there’s no more hope for that… is just devastating,” Ortiz told the outlet. “You should never have to bury your children.”

He described his daughter and son-in-law as soulmates.

“They were happy. That’s the happiest I’ve seen my daughter as an adult. They’re still happy together. Couldn’t separate them,” he said.

A GoFundMe page says Kristen “had the most contagious laugh and thrived to make the people around her smile and giggle along.

“Kristen was a beacon in many peoples storms, so please, let’s rally around her family and be the beacon for them in this very difficult time,” it adds.