DELAWARE, Ohio — On Dec. 7, 2016, the lives of two families became forever intertwined through tragedy.
Steven Durant, of Michigan, was in the Columbus area with his family driving on Riverside Drive just before Home Road when they took a curve and crashed with a driver heading in the opposite direction. According to Ohio State Highway Patrol, 20-year-old Calvin “River” Richards had crossed the center line.
Durant and his now ex-wife, Moriah, suffered severe injuries including shattered bones. Their 4-year-old daughter, Rosaria, died at the hospital.
Richards died at the hospital a few weeks later.
Now eight years later, the pain of losing a child is something Durant says he will never get over.
“But you have to look at the memory of the child and what they stood for and try to keep that alive,” Durant said.
Several years after the crash, he wondered about Richards and his family. So he reached out to his mom, Donna Hillberry.
“I was a little nervous at first but I’m incredibly thankful that Steven reached out to me when he did three years ago,” Hillberry said.
Hillberry had been wanting to make contact but was not sure how the Durant family would respond.
“I didn’t know where they were in their grief and I didn’t want to bring up bad memories so I just waited. So I was so thankful the first time I heard from them,” she said.
This weekend, the families met face-to-face for the first time.
“We embraced each other, and despite the fact that we lost both of our children, there is common ground there, hope, opportunity,” Durant said.
For the last several months, Hillberry and Durant have been working together with the Ohio Department of Transportation to adopt a road in their children’s honor.
They held their first trash cleanup on state Route 665 in Madison County, which ODOT has officially declared to be in honor of Calvin “River” Richards and Rosaria Durant.
“I think for us the most important thing is people do not forget our children. So doing this project not only helps the community by cleaning up the roadway, it also helps people remember by coming up to help clean up the roadway,” Hillberry said.
Now they have a physical way to honor their children’s legacy, but the emotional impact of their union has also helped each family in their grieving process.
“Coming together is a wonderful thing but coming together for a cause that is impactful healing together. Donna and I over the years, we have shared things with each other about Rosaria and River and I have gained through her lens, what River is all about,” Durant said.
The Durant family is also holding a Toy Drive for children at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Rosaria’s honor.
The 56 Rotary Clubs in District 6690 and Liberty Township Fire Department, whose first responders tried to save Rosaria’s life, are helping to collect toys.
If you would like to take part in the Toy Drive, click here for details: Fundraise to Help Kids Everywhere!: Mr. Steven Durant - Nationwide Children's Hospital