FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — Candles and flowers blanketed the corner of Walnut and Jefferson Thursday night, as family and friends gathered for a vigil to remember Samantha and Elena Kellogg.

The mother and daughter were killed in a crash on Wednesday morning.

“Those two were inseparable, they wouldn’t separate for nothing,” said Samantha’s Uncle, Jerry Santiago.

He led the vigil of more than 50 people, telling us the turnout was a testament to the life she lived.

“Everybody’s here, everyone she knew is here. And you can’t ask for anything more, it just shows you how much she touched in her young life,” Santiago said.

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The family is in mourning now, but the focus will shift to making sure Samantha’s husband and four young boys left behind, feel loved this holiday season.

And through the sorrow, Santiago giving thanks to the good Samaritans who jumped into action.

“They’re the ones that helped, they tried to do their best to save Elena, they tried to do their best to help Samantha,” he said.

One of those “first responders” was Jennifer Wettlaufer who told us she and her mother ran outside after hearing the crash from their home just across the street.

“We would want it done for us. I would hope that if it was me in that situation, that someone’s gonna come to my aid,” Wettlaufer said.

Wettlaufer says she spent nearly 15 minutes tending to 2-year-old Elena, who was partially ejected from the car, before first responders arrived.

Officers say she was not in a car seat.

Neighbors tell Action News the crashes in this area are unfortunately common, leaving her asking how many more lives must be lost before a change is made.

“There would have been no crash, everyone would’ve went on with their day, we wouldn’t be having this if we had one more stop sign,” Wettlaufer said.

For now, Thursday’s vigil will have to serve as a stark reminder of the risks that remain.

“The family loves her, we’re gonna miss Samantha and Elena, but that’s okay, we have her in our hearts,” Santiago said.

The family is accepting donations for funeral expenses, and they say any leftover money will be put away and saved for Samantha’s four sons.

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