One of the four victims who died in Thursday's devastating crash on the Aurora Avenue bridge was 49-year-old Claudia Derschmidt from Austria. On Friday the Honorary Consul of Austria for the state of Washington spoke out about the loss and the love that has been shown for the family in the hours after the accident.
"They didn't move here with the intention to immigrate, they moved here because of an experience, a semester abroad," Eva Kammel said.
Derschmidt and her 15 year old son decided to move to America a few weeks ago for a semester in Seattle. She enrolled at North Seattle College. Her son was a student at Roosevelt High School.
"She was a person who knew the world was big and she wanted to show it to her son," Kammel said.
Her son was at class on Thursday as Derschmidt spent her orientation week sightseeing. At 11:15 she boarded a bus that was traveling on Southbound 99 when witnesses say a duck boat crossed the center line and hit the side of the bus head on. Claudia died at the scene.
"Then you get confirmation from the state department and it hits you," Kammel said. "It really hits you."
The bond between mother and son was incredibly strong. As you can imagine her son is filled with overwhelming grief.
"Because they wanted to do this together (study abroad) is a sign that they had a strong bond between them," Kammel said. "He is devastated, I cannot describe in words. I don't have words for that."
Kammel said one of the bright spots in the dark time has come following a brief meeting 10 days ago at Golden Gardens Park.
"Another family approached them and they said 'Oh you're speaking German. Where do you come from?" Kammel said.
It turns out the family that approached them has roots in Austria and since the passing of Claudia they have played host to the 15 year old as he awaits his return to his father back in his home country.
"It's like an angel sent by god because these are the ones who can take care of the boy the best and they are doing it in a remarkable way," Kammel said.
Friday was Austrian American day. Kammel said the love shown for this family by both Austrians and Americans has been incredible. Kammel said there is no greater way to show the friendship between two countries than supporting each other in difficult times.
