TYLER (KYTX) - Tragedy strikes a Tyler family while they're on vacation in Wyoming. A car accident claimed the life of 2-year-old Matthew Saine Saturday.
CBS 19 introduced you to the Saine family back in May, as a part of our Children are a Gift series.
The family was in a car accident Saturday in Wyoming. David and Lisa Saine's 2-year-old son Matthew was one of five children in the car. He was thrown from the car, still strapped into his car seat, and he died at the scene.
The news is hitting friends in Tyler hard, as a family so full of love, is now overwhelmed with grief.
"This is just an incredible family," says Kathy Fergueson with the BAIR Foundation for foster and adoptive parents. She has worked with the Saine family for a year and a half now.
"They were foster parents with our organization since 2007. They would probably have continued to foster, but they filled their home," she said.
The Saines have three biological children and have also adopted five others, including 2-year-old Matthew, back in August of 2011.
"I was devastated when I heard first just about the accident," Fergueson says. "When I was told that Matthew had been killed, I was just crushed. It's hard to imagine him not being with us, because he was so full of life."
The Saine family is incredibly loved, and they are all very involved members of the Southern Oaks Baptist Church in Tyler.
Their associate pastor, Tony Garrett says little Matthew was always smiling.
"It's such a tragic thing to happen to such good people," he said. "He was just a precious loving little boy and it's just a sad situation."
Garrett says the Saine family is usually at the church helping out almost every single day of the week. It's easy to tell by their incredible support system, how much they mean to this community.
"You can never have too much support or too much prayer at a time like this," Pastor Garrett says.
He was in touch with David Saine throughout the day Monday.
"He's hurting a lot and with his wife in her condition. She's still being sedated and things like that, but he's having to bear the load right now," Garrett says.
Lisa is still in the hospital, but with enough love and support, close friends pray she'll pull out of this tragedy.
Lisa is in critical condition. She was scheduled for another surgery Monday afternoon.
Their 11-year-old son Maverick suffered some broken bones and is at a hospital in Denver with other family members. Lisa and David's 17-year-old daughter was in the car behind them, and saw the accident happen.
Close family friends tell me it should be at least a week and a half until the family is able to leave Wyoming and come home to Tyler. It could be longer, depending on Lisa's condition.
The Southern Oaks Baptist Church has started preparing to help take care of the family.
A fund has been set up for the Saine family. If you want to donate, call the church at (903) 561-8025.
