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Two kids recovering in ICU, sole survivors of crash

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Inside Wolfson Children’s Hospital, 4-year-old Daniel Eden III and his sister, 2-year-old Madison, are recovering from a car crash that killed their parents and three others.

Their uncle, Donald Eden, said neither one knows their parents, Daniel  Jr. and Brandy Eden, are dead.

“I don't know how I'm going to tell them,” said Donald Eden.

Donald Eden’s wife, Amanda, said her brother-in-law and his wife had recently moved to Jacksonville from West Virginia.

“They were very close with us and it's just really heartbreaking and tragic that this happened. He was definitely going in an upswing, he was getting a new job and she had a job that she just got,” said Donald Eden.

Amanda Eden said they were in Clay County Tuesday dropping off a friend.

Daniel Eden Jr., 29, was driving a Toyota Camry. Inside the car was his wife, his cousin, David Eden, and his girlfriend, Rebecca Bates, 46.

The two children were also in the car, but investigators said only one was properly restrained.

“Which is very unfortunate and sad, that's why it's always important to make sure your kids are buckled up and never cut corners with that,” said Amanda Eden.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, for some unknown reason the Camry crossed the center yellow lines and crashed head on into 22-year-old Chelsea Johnson’s Nissan Altima, killing her, too.

Johnson was the wife of a Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy. Action News reported Tuesday that she was on her way home from her husband’s graduation ceremony.

“We know there was another family impacted yesterday. Our heart goes out to them and their loss and we are so sorry that they had to deal with that,” said Amanda Eden.

Donald Eden said the family is still in shock, he said he was just getting to know his brother.

“We were fighting for a lot of years we just came together just recently,” said Donald Eden.

Amanda and Donald Eden have started a GoFundMe page for their niece and nephew.

According to Amanda Eden, Madison will likely be taken out of the intensive care unit Thursday while doctors will continue monitoring Daniel Eden III.