Overton community rallies around crash victims

By Katie Crowther

CREATED Aug. 21, 2012

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  • The Overton family involved in a tragic accident last month on Interstate 15 near Apex, is coming to terms with their loss. Video by ktnv.com

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  • The Nevada Highway Patrol said a Ford F-250 was pulling a trailer when it blew a tire on I-15 near the Speedway on Wednesday afternoon.

  • A woman in the passenger seat was ejected from the pickup truck and declared dead at the scene.

  • The woman's 3-year-old son, Zachary, was also declared dead at the scene after medics tried to revive him.

  • The driver of the truck and two other children in the car were taken to University Medical Center.

  • Authorities say the family is from Overton, Nevada.

  • The fatal crash backed up traffic on I-15 northbound for several hours.

  • Crews spent hours working to investigate what happened and clearing the scene before it was reopened to traffic.

  • Troopers say a blown tire caused the crash.

  • Authorities say the crash is a reminder to drivers to check their tires.

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Overton, NV (KTNV) -- The Overton family involved in a tragic accident last month on Interstate 15 near Apex is coming to terms with their loss.

Dani Fox and her youngest son -- three-year-old Zack -- were killed in that crash.

Dani's husband Cody and their other two young sons narrowly survived.

"It's hard for all of us," says Dani's brother Michael Palmer. "We're slowly getting better. But we miss Dani and Zack."

The Foxs were on a road trip, driving a trailer from Overton to Las Vegas, for a friend.

"My truck broke down and they had offered to help me because the trailer needed to get to Las Vegas" says Heidi Crawford Lewis. "I wish I could go back and change it. If I would have known what was going to happen, I wouldn't have let them go."

Investigators from Nevada Highway Patrol say the accident was caused by a blown tire on Cody's truck.

Heidi is now behind a project meant to help the Fox family in their healing process. She's collecting letters from anyone willing to share memories of Dani and Zack. With those letters, she'll make a book.

"The sons that Dani left behind are young." Heidi says. "They got a long road ahead without their mom. I want them to know her as they get older and remember the little things. I want them to have stories not just from other family members, but from people in this community, who adored Dani. She did a lot for Overton. She loved life, and loved her boys."

Friends say Cody Fox has really stepped up for his boys. He is now a single father, coping with the sudden loss of his wife and son. The entire Fox family wanted to express their thanks for the outpouring of community support since the accident.

If you'd like to leave a letter for the Fox boys, you can drop it off at Lynn's Supermarket in Overton.