🚨 Family of couple killed in crash react to suspect’s arrest: ‘This tragedy didn’t have to happen’ 🚨K

A 22-year-old man has been indicted on multiple charges in connection with a deadly crash that happened in June, according to Gresham Police Department. (KPTV)

GRESHAM, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) – For the family of a husband and wife from Oregon, who were killed in a June car crash, the indictment of a suspect is a step toward justice but far from closure.

Eyasu Bedasso, 22, was indicted Oct. 31 and arrested by investigators last Wednesday, according to the Gresham County Police Department. He was booked into jail for two counts of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of criminally negligent homicide and reckless driving.

The charges stem from a June 16 car crash that killed 69-year-old Theresa Heick and her husband, 79-year-old Robert Heick.

Police say Bedasso was driving an SUV when he collided with the couple’s car on Southwest Towle Avenue. Theresa Heick, who had been driving, died at the scene. Her husband was critically injured and taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Family members of the Heicks met with KPTV near the scene of the crash Friday, where a makeshift memorial has been arranged in the couple’s honor.

“This tragedy didn’t have to happen,” said the Heicks’ nephew, Mikal Murray. “They meant everything to my family, and their involvement was just felt by everybody.”

Murray and the Heicks’ niece, Tara Ivie, said the couple were like parents to them and always checked in on family and friends in the community.

Ivie said she struggled to comprehend what happened after the crash and struggled more with her uncle hospitalized days after.

“I remember feeling that as part of my grief of how do we move forward without her, and I didn’t even think about how we would move forward without him,” Ivie said.

To make matters worse, family members said they were left in the dark about the crash for months after it happened. They found out about the details of Bedasso’s arrest and charges on Friday when the information was given to the press.

Police say after the crash, investigators reviewed physical evidence, surveillance video and data captured by Bedasso’s SUV’s onboard computers. Investigators determined the suspect was going more than 80 mph in the posted 35 mph zone. Investigators do not believe impairment was a factor in the crash.

“I wanted this to be just an accident, just an unfortunate accident,” Murray said. “When I heard today the speed, it’s the first time I’ve had as much anger as I’ve had.”

Adding to the family’s frustration was Bedasso’s bond, which was set at just $10,000. According to court records, Bedasso posted 10% of that bond, or $1,000, and was released Friday.

“He gets to potentially spend the holidays with his family, and we don’t,” Ivie said.

Bedasso, who has pleaded not guilty, is scheduled to appear in court again Dec. 19. In the meantime, the Heicks’ family say they continue to honor their lost loved ones and are pushing city leaders to install traffic safety measures near the intersection where the couple were killed.

“We have two things left: justice and change,” Murray said. “That’s what we can do.”