Mitchell Mom: Wreck Still A Blur

The woman who lost her husband and five children in a traffic accident along Highway 287 last week said she’s still at a loss to explain how she and the rest of her children are doing.

“We don’t know yet,” said Melody Mitchell from Swedish Medical Center on Thursday. “It’s still a blur but we’re strong, very strong and we have each other.”

Mitchell’s husband Howard was behind the wheel of the family van when it crashed into the back of an empty horse trailer. Five children were killed, seven ended up in the hospital.

A family spokesman said Howard’s heart had an 80 percent blockage when he died leading some family members to believe he may have had a heart attack while driving. Family members said speeding through a construction zone was out of character for the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s deputy.

Friends said the Mitchell family is dealing with heavy grief but have their faith in the Lord to help them deal with the loss.

The seven children hospitalized in the wreck are recovering well according to a family spokesman. He called them “walking miracles.”