Grief often requires faith in the midst of an unforgettable tragedy. Parishioners at D.C.’s St. Augustine Catholic Church might agree as they reflect on how Marlysha, Paul and Leilani Liddell left this world.
“It would’ve been horrible however they died. It is especially horrible that it was so violent, and they were such gentle people, such joy-filled people,” said Monica Gray with the church. “[…] Paul and Marylsha don’t have to live without their little girl, and Leilani doesn’t have to grow up without their parents.”
The mother, father and their 4-year-old daughter died in a fiery crash on I-66 on Sunday afternoon as they headed home from church. Two men, including the driver of a truck hauling oxygen tanks, were charged with reckless driving.
The Liddells were a young family who lived in Manassas and made the commute all the way to Northwest D.C. every Sunday for Sunday devotion and to be with their church family.
Marlysha Liddell was a caring mother and civil rights attorney with the Department of Justice.
Paul Liddell was the yin to his wife’s yang, people who knew them said. His thunderous voice carried through the pews when speaking about the love he had for his family.
Leilani, the couple’s miracle baby born prematurely, had a vocabulary impressive for a 4-year-old who was preparing to start pre-K this week.
“They lived in faith, and they were a living testimony,” said Father Patrick A. Smith. “[…] It really was a community that really embraced them, their whole family.”
St. Augustine parishioners told News4 shortly after the family left from the church in their Honda Pilot, they were killed in the crash.
“I relive Sunday often. I watched them drive away,” Gray said. “[…] And I keep thinking, ‘What if I had delayed them by five minutes?’”
A violent crash and 2 drivers charged
According to Virginia State Police, just after 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon, the Honda Pilot was traveling on I-66 when their SUV slammed into the back of a stopped utility truck carrying oxygen tanks.
The initial investigation found the 4Runner “had been forced out of” the right lane and hit the express lane bollards, police said. The 4Runner and truck then stopped in the right lane.
“While the two vehicles were stopped in the travel lane, the commercial motor vehicle, which was carrying oxygen tanks, was struck by a Honda Pilot. The Honda then caught fire,” police said in a statement.
All three members of the Liddell family were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the 4Runner, Walter R. Juarez Bautista, 55, of Virginia, and the driver of the utility truck, Jesus Huaman, 45, of Maryland, each were charged with reckless driving, police said.
As police continue to investigate, the Liddells’ church is struggling with three unimaginable losses.
“It’s not three fatalities; it’s three amazing people that the world has lost,” Gray said.
“It’s a major blow,” said Melinda Jennings with the church. “It’s going to be a very hard third Sunday and even beyond.”
