Powers Boulevard crash claims life of Colorado Springs woman; Family seeks support

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- A community is mourning the loss of a woman after a tragic crash on Powers Boulevard earlier this week.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, a driver of an SUV lost control of their vehicle, jumped the median, and collided head-on with a sedan on Saturday. The driver of the SUV was transported to the hospital, and the driver of the sedan— described by friends and loved ones as Jennifer Hooper, a wife, mother, grandmother, friend — was killed in the crash.

KRDO13 spoke with her parents, Michael and Linda Gerwatowski, who are devastated.

Inside their home, time feels frozen. Photo albums line the bed; Jennifer at different ages, smiling back at the family who loved her.  The silence is overwhelming, broken only by phone calls to loved ones, the ticking of a clock, and quiet sobs as they try to process the loss.

Police say Jennifer was killed after an SUV struck her vehicle head-on. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead.

"It was one of the most devastating things we could ever hear to lose our daughter like this, and to leave a husband and three small kids at home," said Michael Gerwatowski.

Jennifer’s parents say they want people to remember her not for how she died— but for how deeply she lived and how fiercely she was loved.

"There's nothing you can say, you know, just keep praying," said Linda Gerwatowski.

Now, Michael and Linda are leaning on memories to get through each day, while also facing the unexpected costs that come with a sudden loss. The family's GoFundMe can be found by clicking here.

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