By admin 
MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — A Valley family is grieving after four family members were killed in a car crash on Labor Day.
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Giovanni Huerta and his wife, Kiah Begaye, were killed along with their two sons, 4-year-old Dakota and 2-year-old Malakai.
The family was driving back to the Valley from New Mexico on Monday afternoon.
Vehicle hit head-on near Heber-Overgaard
Authorities say the victims’ vehicle was traveling along State Route 260 near Heber-Overgaard when it was hit head-on by a pickup truck, killing all four of them.
Chrissy Kaibetoney is Begaye’s mother.
“No, it doesn’t seem fair at all because they were so young, so young, had whole life ahead of them, had plans, had goals, had adventures they wanted to go on,” Kaibetoney said.
Joel Huerta, Huerta’s father, said the experience doesn’t feel real.
“It’s like a dream, and I’m still wanting to wake up. I wake up, and I am still in the dream — more like a nightmare,” Huerta said.
Couple were high school sweethearts
The victims’ parents said Giovanni and Kiah were high school sweethearts who got married in April. The couple lived in Laveen, where Huerta worked as a mechanic and Begaye was starting a Native American clothing business.
Both are described by family as parents who loved spending time with their kids and extended family.
“They were my world,” Huerta said. “My son, my only son, 2 generations gone like that.”
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Kaibetoney said losing multiple loved ones at once is unimaginable.
“Losing your loved ones in an instant like that has no words to describe it,” Kaibetoney said.
Community support and a message about driving
The family said the outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming, including from strangers who have offered to help with funeral expenses through a verified GoFundMe page. The family said no one should have to go through the pain they are experiencing.
Kaibetoney has a message for drivers.
“Just encourage people to take their time driving, no need to rush anywhere especially on a holiday weekend. It’s not worth it,” she said.
The 21-year-old driver of the pickup truck that hit the family has been arrested and charged with manslaughter. It is not known whether impairment was a factor in the crash. One of the victim’s family members said a DPS trooper told them the driver may have fallen asleep behind the wheel.
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