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Ed Yeates ReportingA wonderful holiday vacation with the family in a 30-foot fully equipped Georgetown motor home -- that was Mark and Margerie Matilla 's dream, and it was all going so well, until Sunday.
Brent Matilla remains in critical condition at Primary Children’s Hospital. His sister Misty is in stable condition, at LDS Hospital. They are two among only five survivors of their family now after that dream vacation came to an tragic end Sunday at Point of the Mountain.
They were simply passing through Utah when their rented motor home went out of control and plunged off a freeway overpass. Those killed include the parents, Mark and Marjerie, their 5-month old son Adam, seven-year old Max, 4-year old Marci, and 6-year old Katie.
14-year old Jordan and 9-year old Shane were treated and released from Alta View Hospital two hours after the accident. The oldest brother, Kurt didn't go on the trip and is now in Salt Lake with other family members - meeting together and making some pretty tough decisions.
Mark Mattila's brother says the real mending now goes way beyond any physical wounds.
Joel Mattila, Mark's Brother: “It’s just a terrible tragedy. It feels like 9-11 hit our family. That’s what it feels like. The only thing that as a family that we ask is for prayers for the five surviving children. Just keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We loved ‘em and it's just terrible. We're devastated as a family."
As of today, a trust fund has been set up for the family at any US Bank branch. The Mattila's were from the small town of Richland in south central Washington.
