HOLLISTER, Calif. - A San Jose fire captain is grappling with an unthinkable tragedy after all three of his children were killed in a car crash Sunday evening.Captain Steve Biakanja of San Jose Fire Station 16 lost his 14-year-old twin daughters Leigh and Lucy, and 12-year-old son Ben, in a crash on Highway 156 in Hollister.The children's mother also died in the crash.Captain Steve Biakanja pictured alongside his children, Leigh, Lucy, and Ben.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the four were traveling in a Tesla on eastbound Highway 156 when, for unknown reasons, their vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and hit a tractor-trailor.Investigators are trying to determine why the Tesla crossed into oncoming traffic.The Carmel Unified School District said that Leigh, Lucy, and Ben were all enrolled at Carmel Middle School and attended Tularcitos Elementary School before that.Superintendent Ted Knight told KION-TV, "Coming back, the second week of school to this news this morning was certainly very tragic and was hard for a lot of staff and students to hear."Knight said the deaths of Leigh, Lucy, and Ben has taken a toll on some of their classmates."Some students did need to go home.
Some students are in our wellness center talking to mental health professionals. Others might have just needed a little quiet time," Knight said.Captain Steve Biakanja pictured alongside his children, Leigh, Lucy, and Ben.
But the one who suffered the biggest loss is Captain Biakanja.Station 16 set up a GoFundMe to help lessen the financial burden for Biakanja.