Jiyeon Lee (23), Taehee Kim (69) & Junghee Kim (64) died in a multicar pileup and fire after taking a Grand Canyon trip during a winter storm

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.sfgate.com/national-park...n-20232344.php

A family of three is missing in Arizona after taking a trip to Grand Canyon National Park during a hazardous winter storm, officials announced.

Jiyeon Lee, 23, Taehee Kim, 69, and Junghee Kim, 64, were last known to be traveling from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas on March 13, and have since been reported missing, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a news release Tuesday. The family’s trip took place during a winter storm that sent several rounds of snow showers through the area.

The family was traveling in a rental car, and GPS data indicated they were traveling west on Interstate 40 at about 3:27 p.m. on March 13, according to the sheriff’s office. The news release notes that law enforcement is aware of a large multi-vehicle pileup that occurred on westbound I-40 near Williams at approximately 3:27 p.m. that day, though it’s not clear whether the family was involved in the crash.

The collision involved 22 vehicles and started a fire that burned for 20 hours, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

[Bewitchingstorm]

I would think police would know by now if they were involved in the pileup.

[Angiebla]

How much snow did they get? Has it thawed?

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.azfamily.com/2025/03/25/...korean-family/
Vehicle in deadly I-40 pile-up matches SUV description of missing Korean family

An SUV matches the description of the SUV that three missing South Korean family members were in and more human remains have been found after a deadly pile-up on Interstate 40 near Williams, law enforcement officials announced on Monday.

Investigators said they confirmed one of the vehicles involved in the deadly crash on March 13 is a BMW SUV. The last vehicle Junghee Kim, 54, Taehee Kim, 59, and Jiyeon Lee, 33 were seen in was a BMW White with a California license plate. Detectives have not identified the remains found.

The Department of Public Safety said the crash involved 18 cars, sparking a fire that burned for more than 12 hours, destroying all the vehicles. Investigators say because of the damage the process of identifying remains “requires meticulous examination.” At least two people died in the crash, DPS said.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Very sad, but why do I see this like a Keystone Cops investigation? One would think the VIN would be found and traced back to the rental company by now.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Here are pictures from the crash.