California mom taken off life support after huge freeway crash killed husband, son left orphaned

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A California boy has been left orphaned after his father was killed and his mother was taken off life support following a horrific pile-up on Interstate 80 last Saturday.

​Gregory and Vanessa Tobias of Vacaville, both 29, were traveling eastbound on I-80 at around 2:35 a.m. on Oct. 31, when their blue Hyundai Tucson flipped, according to authorities.

​Moments later, three oncoming cars struck the overturned Hyundai, sparking a chain-reaction crash across the freeway.

​Gregory sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Vanessa, who was in the passenger seat, was transported to Kaiser Vacaville in critical condition, where she died six days later on Nov. 6, it was revealed this week.

​The couple leaves behind their young son, Austin.

​“After extensive testing, our beautiful daughter was declared brain-dead. There are no words to describe the heartbreak of a mother who prayed so desperately for God to heal her baby,” Vanessa’s mother, Heather Estebez, said in an update on the family’s GoFundMe campaign.

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​Estebez said the family prayed and cried out to God for six days for a miracle, but Vanessa’s condition never improved.

​“Our hearts are shattered. I cannot understand why we have lost them both or why precious Austin must grow up without his mommy and daddy. But we are holding tightly to our faith,” Estebez said.

​The family has also created a public Facebook group where community members and loved ones continue to share grief-filled messages. School friends, colleagues, friends and family members have shared fond memories of the couple.

​“This morning at 12:18 a.m., Vanessa’s heart was stopped to be donated as someone else’s miracle. In true Vanessa fashion, she is going to be a selfless blessing to so many other people,” Vanessa’s sister, Charlize Estebez, posted in the Facebook group Tuesday.

​Vanessa was an organ donor, and her family confirmed that her heart, pancreas, kidneys, and liver are being donated to save others.

“My Vanessa had a heart of gold, and now that beautiful heart will continue beating in someone else’s chest,” her mother said.

Hallie Sullivan, who was friends with Vanessa for nearly 15 years, said that their birthdays were only a week apart and the duo had plans of bringing in their 30th birthday in Las Vegas in 2027.

“Our birthdays being a week apart was one of our favorites. We even planned to celebrate our 30th next year in Vegas. Greg had never been and I remember us planning a month ago and we were just so excited and marked our calendars down,” Sullivan posted in the group.

​She added that she has been hoping that it was just a nightmare. “I miss you so, so much. Words can’t even begin to describe how much you mean to me,” Sullivan said.

A joint memorial service for Gregory and Vanessa will be held on Friday, Nov. 20, in Vacaville, followed by a Celebration of Life, the family said. The couple will be laid to rest at the Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery.