Auto Crash Into Lake Kills Young Family, 2-Year-Old Survives

“I just can’t believe what happened to her”, Britt said.

Five family members, including three young children, died after their vehicle went into a suburban Phoenix lake, authorities said.

Nathan said she had been Danica’s high school counselor in 2005 and had remained close with the younger woman, who was “like a daughter” to her. Nathan had officiated at Glenn and Danica’s wedding, and when their marriage crumbled, she helped Danica draft divorce papers. Police say Glenn Baxter was in the driver’s seat. A family friend, Monika Lynn Nathan, told the Republic that Baxter’s wife, Danica, was about to file for divorce.

According to Superior Court records, Glenn had faced charges of aggravated assault in 2012, but the charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Nathan said that the young mom would have sought custody of the three children during the week, and that Glenn Baxter, provided he took anger management classes, would have been able allowed to see the kids on the weekends.

Tamika Franklin, an aunt of Danica Baxter, described her as an excellent mother who adored her children.

Nathan said Danica took good care of her children and was “intelligent and always happy”.

Nathan said she was devastated by the news.

“I can’t explain it. It’s hard burying anybody but to bury a whole family at once I just don’t understand it”, she said, shaking her and tearing up.

When the family’s SUV plunged into a reservoir in the middle of Tempe just after midnight, witnesses and police followed it in and pulled the parents and two children to shore. Witnesses and police officers reportedly jumped into the lake to rescue the family. They were not aware of the third child inside.

All four were unconscious as they were extricated from the vehicle.

The family has been identified as 27-year-old Glenn Edward Baxter, his wife, Danica, 25, and their three children: Zariyah, 1, Nazyiah, 2, and 3-year-old Reighn.

Nazyiah was the only survivor of the crash and was in critical condition before he passed away on Sunday, ABC 15 reported.

Tempe police spokesman Michael Pooley says 2-year-old Nazyiah Baxter died Sunday afternoon at a hospital.

The auto belonged to Danica, Nathan claims, however authorities said Glenn Baxter was driving the vehicle when it plunged into the water.

‘These are the types of things our officers are going to carry with them for a few time’.

He said police found a handgun in the SUV, but it’s unclear if Danica Baxter was being held against her will at the time of the incident.