LAKE CITY, Fla. – Two children remain hospitalized after a crash New Year's morning that killed the woman's husband along with two teenagers in an oncoming car on U.S. 90 in Baker County.
Sunday -- four days after the tragic crash -- 150 volunteers started remodeling the exterior and interior of the family's home.
The Florida Highway Patrol said an Acura driven by 17-year-old David Schafer, of Jacksonville, was going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes about 1:30 a.m. Thursday on U.S. 90 in Baker County. That car collided head-on with a Ford Expedition carrying a family of seven people from Lake City.
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The Baker County 911 center received several calls reporting that the car's front end was smashed beyond recognition and the SUV was on fire.
"There's two vehicles, one is about to blow up -- it's on fire," one caller said. "My husband and two other people are inside the vehicle trying to get him out. The other car, I can't tell if anybody is in it -- it's smashed. They got one more out but the driver is still in there."
LISTEN: 911 calls reporting head-on crash
IMAGES: Tragic New Year's Day crash
Troopers said the drivers of both vehicles died, as well as the passenger in the car. In addition to Schafer, his passenger, Jessica Perry, also 17 and from Jacksonville, and Levi Town, 33, of Lake City, died in the crash.
Rescue personnel from Baker and Columbia counties responded to the mass-casualty crash and at least three medical helicopters transported a woman and five children who survived the crash.
The FHP has identified those injured as Amber Town, 31, along with five children with the same last name. Amber Town (pictured center with Levi Town, children and another female relative) and three of the kids were taken to UF Shands in Gainesville and the other two children were transported to UF Health in Jacksonville. All six were listed in serious condition.
Levi Town's boss, Gabriel Curry, said Town was a huge part of his company, HUB Industrial in Lake City. He said Levi Town was a manager and a mentor to many for nine years, but most importantly, a great husband and father.
"Yesterday brought a lot of tears. This morning brought a lot of tears," Curry said. "He was a family man. He loves his five kids, but he also made an amazing impact on the many folks that work here at HUB Industrial."
Levi Town's office is adorned with flowers and cards. On the ground, toys have been left for his five children (pictured below). But there's no Levi, and seeing the warehouse manager's empty office is painful for his co-workers.
"They are in our prayers," Curry said of the Town family. "And that's about the best thing that we can do at this point, pray for them. They are going to get better and we are hearing they are improving. Which we are very very happy about."
Levi Town's co-workers set up an online fundraising account for his family. It's already raised more than $91,000.
ONLINE: Fundraiser for Town family | Fundraiser for Jessica Perry
Curry said he knows the family's hurting emotionally but said he and the others at HUB Industrial will try to help them heal. It won't be easy, but it's the least they can do for a man who was so dear to them.
"It's pretty hard to put into words what Levi meant to us," Curry said. "He was an amazing guy. I shed a lot of tears when I came down here yesterday."
Troopers said the eastbound car driven by Schafer (pictured with Perry) had passed westbound traffic on U.S. 90 without returning to the eastbound lane before striking the SUV head-on.
The stretch of rural two-lane highway, which is near the Olustee Battlefield, has no street lights.
Blood alcohol tests were conducted on both drivers. Test results could take weeks.