POLK COUNTY, Iowa — 16-year-old Chad Dittmer, 38-year-old Kolby Drees and 34-year-old Sara Tourte, all died in a crash Sunday night.
Police say Dittmer was driving north when he failed to stop at a stop sign, hitting Tourte and Drees.
This night changed many lives in a matter of seconds. The Dittmer family is still trying to wrap their heads around what happened.
It was a regular Sunday night for Dittmer's family, they were all working their day jobs until the phones rang with unimaginable news.
"I was broken. I dropped to the ground, kind of just panicked," said Paige Dittmer, Chad's sister.
When Chad's sister, Paige, and his mom arrived on the scene, they said Chad's car was unrecognizable.
"I can't believe he's gone," Paige said. "It's hard, I miss him, I want to just hold him and, you know, smart talk each other back and forth."
Now the family is working to put back the pieces, filling a hole left in their family. They say Chad loved driving his car, fishing and car washes. He was a handyman, who was always wanting to learn new things.
"It's been a struggle," Paige said. "We're all getting through it in our own different ways. One minute it's really hard. The next minute, I can smile kind of because I know he's in a better place, but the next minute, it's back to tears."
Paige described her brother as caring, compassionate and driven. She wants his legacy to be remembered as a helpful young man who did everything he could for his family.
"He brought a lot, he has been such a strong shoulder to lean on," Paige said.
The family set up an account at Veridian Credit Union you can donate directly under the 'Paige Dittmer Memorial Fund' for in person, checks can be written to Chad Dittmer Memorial.
There will also be a candlelight vigil at North Polk High School on Sunday, September 29th at 7:30 p.m..