Family & friends gathering for Amanda Ezra's vigil

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Family and friends of recent crash victim Amanda Ezra are holding a candlelight vigil in her honor Friday night.

The event starts at 8:30 p.m. at Kate's Garden near Lincolnway West and Logan Street in Mishawaka.

Participants are planning to walk nearly 2 miles from Kate's Garden to Mishawaka High School.

Ezra died during an unusual car accident last Sunday. Her head was sticking out of the window as the vehicle swerved and sideswiped a telephone pole.

Police say Ezra's head hit the pole head-on, killing her.

Taylor Esmont, friend of Ezra's and organizer of the vigil, says she expects hundreds of people to participate in the event, including Ezra's mother and stepdad.

Her stepdad shared some encouraging words to help her get through this tough time.

"He said biological, not biological, we're all family," said Esmont. "We all stick together and we all came together at this time. He said it just goes to show that you don't have to be blood to be a family."

Ezra was a mother of 3 children between the ages of 2 and 8 years old.

"They're 8 and younger, so they don't know what's going on," said Esmont. "All they know is that mommy's gone now. They don't have anything to fall back on."

Ezra's mother has set up a memorial trust fund through the Community Wide Federal Credit Union. Anyone looking to donate to the family can do so at any of Community Wide's local branches by letting them know the donation's in care of Amanda Ezra.