Truck Driver Charged In Nebraska Crash That Killed Minnesota Family

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- We know more Tuesday afternoon about the Nebraska crash that killed a Minneapolis family of five.

Kathryne and Jamison Pals were on their way to Colorado for missionary training when a semi ran into their minivan from behind and it burst into flames. The 29-year-old parents died in the crash, along with their three young children, Ezra, Violet and Calvin. A sixth person in another car was also hit and killed.

The driver of the semi, 53-year-old Tony Weekly from Florida, appeared in Keith County court in Nebraska Tuesday afternoon. He is charged with five counts of vehicular homicide.  It's not clear yet if Weekly will be charged in the most recent death.

The sudden loss of the Pals Family is something people far and close are trying to grasp. Rick Pals is Jamison's father.

"I think we're a little bit in shock at this point, I don't know.  I know we are going to go through a lot more grief as the days go by," he said. "Don't know, you never know. God works in ways you don't expect."

And the way it all happened was so very unexpected.  As they traveled through western Nebraska in a construction zone, a semi-truck slammed into the back of the Pals' minivan. Weekly was driving the truck when reports show he was inattentive and distracted by outside influences.

Witness statements say the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed and did not slow down until hitting the Pals' vehicle. Weekly faces five counts of vehicular homicide for the five lives that were lost.

Rhonda Morgan is Kathryne Pals friend.

"It's angering that it happened," Morgan said.

But Morgan says she will do as they would.

"I think in this case they would do it and they would find forgiveness for this person knowing who they are," Morgan said.

Kathryne's sister also spoke with WCCO. They've been working on funeral arrangements, and they'll have a day soon.

They are showing forgiveness today and tell WCCO they do not harbor bad feelings toward Tony Weekly - and agree that Jamison and Kathryne would not either.

What led up to the crash is under investigation. Weekly is in jail on $1 million bail.

The funeral for the Pals family has been set for Saturday at Bethlehem Baptist Church in south Minneapolis. Visitation is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., and a memorial service will start at 11:30 a.m.