RENTON, Wash. — A four-car crash in Renton took the lives of four people on Tuesday afternoon. Three other people were critically injured and an eighth person suffered minor injuries in the crash.
The crash involving four vehicles happened around 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday in the 19200 block of 140th Avenue Southeast, according to fire officials.
An 18-year-old man was identified by authorities as the causing driver on Wednesday, according to the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO). The 18-year-old was injured and is being treated at Harborview Medical Center, while criminal charges are pending.
The KCSO identified a 38-year-old woman, a 13-year-old girl, a 12-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy as the victims killed in the crash.
Here's what we know about the victims of the crash.
Andrea Hudson was the 'best person you could ever ask for'
Hudson, a mother of three, died in the crash. Two of her kids were in the car at the time of the crash and are being treated in the hospital.
Hudson's sister, Melanie Hanes, said she was "Calm, patient and selfless," and never raised her voice at anyone. Still, she was "strong and courageous" and always stood up for what she believed in.
An artist, Andrea's home was described as "kind of like a museum," where everything had a meaning and a story behind it. Andrea loved birthdays and would decorate her home and make "incredible cakes" and throw "incredible parties" for her children.
Andrea loved the outdoors, her faith and her church. She loved serving with children and youth.
"But mostly, the most important legacy she will leave behind is the love she has for her children," Hanes said.
Andrea taught a project-based learning class alongside Buster's mother, Jessica Brown. Brown called Andrea a "treasured friend."
"She was a mother to me in many ways. I learned from her example," Brown said.
At the time of the crash, Hudson was picking the five kids up from a group class and taking them home. Hanes said they often carpooled.
Two of Hudson's children who were in the crash, Charlotte and Nolan Hudson, are still in the ICU recovering from critical injuries.
"Nolan has a lot more broken bones," Hanes said. "They removed his spleen, and has a few he's been in surgery once and they have a few more surgeries that they'll have to do."
Matilda "Tilly" and Eloise Wilcoxson were 'sweet and kind'
Twelve and 13-year-old sisters Eloise and Matilda Wilcoxson were the two oldest of their sibling group. They were "fine, kind and adventurous young ladies," said their mother, Rivka Wilcoxson.
The girls' mother said they "co-captained" their family, being only a year apart in age. They were devoted to their four younger siblings and were "so excited" about their younger sister, who is still on the way.
"They were the best of frenemies, they sure knew how to duke it out when they needed to, but above all they were just adventure buddies," Rivka said. "They loved nothing more than a zoom down a hill at high speeds on their mountain bikes or team up to wrestle their dad."
She went on to say that Eloise could often be found reprimanding her sister about how many plants they had in their bedroom. Matilda was an avid plant enthusiast and bookworm who loved to play the violin and go running with Buster, who was her "bestie."
The girls' mother said her only consolation was that they were together when they died.
"They were inseparable in this life... As bad as it is that they had to go together, I'm really pretty positive that that's how they would want it."
Boyd Buster Brown
Buster Brown, 12, was close with his older brother. They loved to mountain bike together, go to the skate park and play basketball.
Buster, his brother, and Nolan Hudson were an "inseparable trio" and often played in the family's greenbelt and in the woods.
"As fun and lively as Buster was, and as competitive as he was at sports, he was just, honestly the sweetest kid - is the sweetest kid," said his father Jaron Brown. "He just loves his family, loves his mom - he was a mama's boy like I've never known. We just love him, and we mourn for him, we mourn for ourselves."
Buster's mother, Jessica Brown, said he would want to extend his gratitude to everyone who helped raise him, including his teachers in his homeschool program, his cousins, his friends, aunts and uncles.