Pastor of family killed in train crash speaks about loss
The pastor of a church that lost five parishioners Sunday morning in a train accident called it a big loss for a small church community.
Steve and Christina Miller were on their way to church with their four girls when their car was hit by a train. An investigation by Colorado State Patrol found the car did not yield to the oncoming train. The only survivor of the crash was a 4-year-old girl, the Miller’s second-oldest daughter.
The Miller family belonged to a small church in Trinidad lead by pastor Alvin Yoder. Seven families belong to the congregation. Yoder said when Miller family didn’t show up Sunday, they got worried.
“Our youngest son said something is wrong,” said Yoder.
One of Yoder’s son’s who works with Steve Miller called him several times. When he didn’t answer, Yoder’s son drove the route the family took to church. He soon discovered the scene at the train tracks.
“Immediately, fear gripped him and he was afraid it might have been them,” said Yoder. “They said it was a silver van with a family of girls so that pretty much well told us.”
Yoder said the Millers moved to Trinidad five years ago. He described them as honest and hardworking people.
“They were a very very well behaved family. These girls were amazing,” said Yoder. “Steve was a man, you hardly ever found him down and that’s going to be missed in this community. We are a small church and it’s going to leave a big hole in our church. We’re going to miss them very very much.”
Yoder said the Millers valued their family and faith.
“They love the Lord. They had a tremendous testimony,” said Yoder.
It’s that same faith that’s helping Yoder make sense of the tragedy.
“We believe that God is sovereign and he does all Things well and he does not make any mistakes,” said Yoder. “I do believe they are in glory with our Lord because of their commitment to the Lord and their acceptance of him that they live for.”
The couple’s 4-year-old is in stable condition in at Denver Children’s Hospital.
“She is doing fairly well but she does have a long way to go. She has broken bones in her left arm, her leg is broken and she has some other fractures,” said Yoder.
Yoder said Steve Miller had a will. Right now, the family is trying to find it to determine who will get custody of the 4-year-old.
