CLEVELAND — Sixteen-year-old Iana McCrary and 9-year-old Daeshon Whalen were amazing, bright, and the most loving children any parent would want. They were perfect kids, says their mother, Leih Whalen.
"They had everything that they needed — they were respectful kids, they liked animals, he liked sports, she liked to hang with her friends," Leih says. "They were everything."
Everything changed this past Monday on Interstate 90. Iana and Daeshon were killed when the car they were in was hit by a garbage truck.
"They came to a stop and some cars swerved out [of] the way," Leih recalled, "and the truck hit the back of the car."
Leih looked at her Ring camera to make sure it was Iana who had left the home earlier that day. Then, she realized Daeshon was in the car, too.
"That's when my heart really dropped," Leih said, "because I didn't know she took him with her."
Two others were injured in that crash, and Iana and Daeshon had been in the back seat. Leih later learned other motorists stopped to help and called 911.
"I'm glad that they weren't alone; they were together and other people were trying to help. That's the best part," Leih told 3News. "I'm just thankful that they [saw] somebody's face, somebody was trying to help them."
Iana worked at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and was excited to work the Women's Final Four this weekend. Daeshon lived every moment for animals and sports.
It's an unthinkable loss for any parent, but Leih says she has to go on, as her 13-year-old son is depending on her. But she first has to bury her two other children that had a full life ahead of them."
"I really don't know where to go from here," she admitted. "Obviously, I'm taking it second-by-second."
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Leih and her family pay for funeral expenses.