Couple killed in car crash days after birth of their premature baby

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A Pennsylvania family is grieving the loss of two parents who died in a car crash.

Stephen Rothrauff and his fiancée, Jessica Camp, were killed in the crash in Warren County just days after the couple welcomed their baby, who was born prematurely. They were headed to the NICU to see their child when the crash happened.

Their newborn, Paizlee, was born a month and four days before her due date and was rejecting formula, so the couple was driving to the hospital so she could give the child milk.

Police said Rothrauff's Chevrolet Trailblazer was heading east on Route 6 in Mead Township when he lost control of the vehicle on the snow-covered, slippery road and began to spin.

Rothrauff’s car slid into the path of a tractor-trailer in the westbound lane and the two collided. The SUV was hit hard on the driver’s side and continued to spin before it stopped at a guard rail. Police said both Rothrauff, 39, and Camp, 32, were killed instantly.

Family said Rothrauff loved his fiancée, his children and the outdoors.

Camp’s 15-year-old daughter was ejected from the vehicle, and she was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh -- where she was on life support and is now in stable condition.

Now, the rest of their family is working to make sure those children are taken care of, but they do hope the public can help.

“Baby clothes would help, toys would help. Any type of gift ... anything at this point to make Christmas for them because this is going to be something they remember for the rest of their lives," said Tierra De La Vega, the victim’s niece.

About the Author