In what should have been a time of celebration and love, a newlywed couple’s life was tragically cut short just days after their wedding. Ruben Rodriguez and Juliana Rodriguez-Plata were killed in a devastating accident on Interstate 70 in Colorado, marking an abrupt and heartbreaking end to their journey together.

The couple, along with their 1-year-old son Daniel and Juliana’s parents, were traveling westbound on I-70 near Wheat Ridge, Colorado, at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 15. Their world was turned upside down when an eastbound semi-truck lost control, rolled over, and spilled its load of large pipes across the highway. The debris spanned over two football fields and struck several vehicles, including the one carrying Ruben, Juliana, and their family.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department is still piecing together the sequence of events that led to the tragedy. They confirmed that the semi-truck’s load, which included nearly 100 large blue plastic tubes weighing roughly 500 pounds each scattered across the westbound lanes, contributed to a series of crashes involving at least seven vehicles. The exact cause of the semi-truck’s loss of control is under investigation, and authorities have cautioned that determining the full details will take time.

Amid the wreckage, Juliana’s father, Carlos Plata, was left with the unimaginable pain of losing his daughter, his wife, Luz Melba Martinez, and his son-in-law, Ruben Rodriguez, in an instant. In a harrowing account shared with Fox 31, Plata recounted the terrifying moment the pipes came barreling toward their vehicle.

“I saw when the pipes were going, so I just closed my eyes and no reaction; I just felt the impact, and I woke up out of nowhere and just saw the baby crying and everyone unconscious, not waking up,” he said. “It was terrible, the accident, the image, all the blood. They were just instantly dead. Seeing my whole family, my daughter and my wife dead.”

Juliana’s parents had traveled from Colombia to celebrate their daughter’s wedding, a joyful event held just days before the fatal crash. The family’s tragedy is further compounded by the fact that Daniel, Ruben and Juliana’s young son, now faces a future without his parents. The family had celebrated his first birthday on Sunday, just one day after the wedding, making the loss even more poignant.

Family members and friends are grappling with the sudden and heartbreaking loss of Ruben, Juliana, and Luz Melba. In a post on a GoFundMe page created to support the family, Janell Rodriguez, a relative, expressed the deep sorrow felt by all who knew the couple.

“Today has been one of the hardest days we have ever faced. We are heartbroken to share that Ruben Rodriguez, Juliana Rodriguez Plata, and Luz Melba Martinez were tragically taken from us in an accident,” she wrote. “Ruben and Juliana had just begun their beautiful journey together, having celebrated their wedding this past Saturday. They leave behind their precious 1-year-old son, Daniel.”

Juliana’s niece and nephew, Tony and Esli Rodriguez, shared their grief and disbelief with Fox 31. Esli Rodriguez spoke of how Ruben had been the happiest he had ever seen him, having found love and started a family with Juliana. “It fully hasn’t hit me yet, but I just think about it, and I just want to cry because he was happy, he met her, and he had a kid. I’ve never seen him this happy,” Esli said.

As the investigation continues, the Wheat Ridge Police Department has emphasized the complexity of the case, noting that it will take weeks, not days, to gather all the necessary facts and evidence. In a statement released on social media, the department expressed its condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and assured them of their full support.

“While we understand people want answers, this is an incredibly complicated investigation that will take weeks, not days, to complete. We are working in conjunction with our partners at the First Judicial DA’s Office of Colorado on potential charges,” the statement read.

The community has rallied around the grieving family, with the GoFundMe campaign set up to help cover funeral expenses and provide support for young Daniel. As they navigate the overwhelming loss of three beloved family members, the Rodriguez and Plata families are finding solace in their faith and the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and even strangers.