A car crash on the Chisholm Trail Parkway in Fort Worth, Texas, claimed the lives of a newlywed couple, former Marines Kristen Huddleston, 35, and Jared Huddleston, 42, in the early hours of December 3, 2023.
The couple, both veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps, were killed in a head-on collision with a vehicle driven by an alleged drunk driver, 27-year-old Andrew Adamson.
The Huddlestons were returning from a reunion with fellow Marines when their SUV was struck by Adamson’s car, which was traveling the wrong way on the parkway.
The impact of the crash resulted in the immediate death of both Kristen and Jared at the scene, while Adamson sustained non-life-threatening injuries. He was later taken into police custody and is now facing two counts of intoxication and manslaughter.
Kristen’s father, Rafael Ortiz, deeply mourned the loss of his daughter and son-in-law, who he described as soulmates. Kristen, a caring mother to two daughters, was attending school with the aim of becoming a therapist to assist other former Marines in transitioning to civilian life. Jared, remembered by friends as a man with a heart of gold, had served alongside his wife in the Marine Corps.
The couple, who each had children from previous relationships, had recently moved to Texas from California, seeking proximity to Ortiz. They had just purchased a home in Crowley, Texas, and were looking forward to settling in the area.
Community support for the Huddleston family has been significant, with several GoFundMe pages established to assist with funeral expenses and support for their children.