Overview: Sisters Nicole Hester and Leann Martin-Hester and their cousin India Hester tragically lost their lives in a multi-vehicle collision on the northbound I-215 in San Bernardino on September 14. The Hester girls were leaving a family wedding in Temecula when the accident occurred. A memorial celebration will be held for the Hester girls on October 12 at The Way World Outreach Church in San Bernardino. The family has received an outpouring of support from co-workers, teammates, church members, and neighbors.
Alyssah Hall
On Sept. 14, around 11:26 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers responded to a multi-vehicle collision on the northbound I-215, south of University Parkway in San Bernardino. Nicole Hester, 27, India Hester, 19 and Leann Martin-Hester, 18, were pronounced dead on scene, according to the San Bernardino Coroner’s Office.
The Hester girls were leaving a family wedding in Temecula the night of the accident. Sisters Nicole and Leann were on their way to drop their cousins India and Ander at home, before heading home themselves. Ander, 20, is the only one who survived the tragic accident.
“If you can imagine the tragedy of losing three girls, it is just taking a toll on the whole family because you got the cousins and the siblings — it’s hard on them. It’s hard on the parents. It’s hard on the extended family. It was just really difficult, just a really difficult thing,” said the Hester girls’ aunt, Princess Hester.
In honor of the girls, Princess Hester is organizing a memorial celebration at the The Way World Outreach in San Bernardino.
“[W]e’ve put together a tribute. We decided to memorialize them together. That’s the way they always were. They were always together,” Hester said.
Nicole Hester, the eldest, had worked as a behavioral therapist with children. She went to Grand Canyon University, graduated with her bachelor’s degree and then continued on for her master’s degree. She was also a “creative spirit,” who enjoyed music, and art and was part of a dance troupe in Arizona.
“She’s one of those types of people where I’ve never known her to not ever smile. I’ve never known her to have a bad day. She just brings love and light wherever. Nicole is the type of person like she’d give you, literally, the shoes off her feet,” said Hester.
Hester recounted Nicole’s generosity as she recalled a time during a family wedding, when Nicole traded her own shoes with a bridesmaid, who had been experiencing pain in her feet due to her high heels.
India Hester was an avid softball player and played travel ball from middle school to high school. Princess said that in everything India did, she gave her best and didn’t seek perfection, but brought her own personal hard work to the table each time.
“India, our shining star, brought our family so much joy, warmth, and love. From the little moments to the milestones, she made every day brighter and put love in everything she touched,” Hester described. “India did everything with a smile and a special gentleness.”
On Sunday, Sept. 22, India’s softball team honored her memory during a memorial balloon release ceremony where her teammates, coaches and family released red and white balloons as a “symbol of love, remembrance, and celebration of life.”
India was a member of The Way World Outreach Church and worked in the nursery. Just a few months ago, “she gave her life to Christ.” Because India was a congregant, the Hester family reached out to the church to host the girls’ memorial celebration. The Way said they would be honored to celebrate the Hester girls’ lives.
The youngest, Leann Martin-Hester, recently graduated from Options for Youth, a public charter school, and gave the commencement speech at her graduation. She was engaged in her school, loved to travel, and was always smiling and thoughtful, according to Hester.
Leann was preparing to attend California State University, San Bernardino to pursue a degree in social work, with the desire to help others.
“Leann was our baby girl with the biggest heart! The family meant everything to her. She came to our family as an infant, and we instantly fell in love with her,” Hester said.
Hester detailed how attached members of the family were to Leann, especially Leann’s younger nephew, Asai, who was Leann’s “bestie.” When he was two years old, he wouldn’t go to anyone except Leann. He would almost leap into her arms.
“She laughed and loved with her whole heart and her faith was everything. She also inspired and motivated everyone around her. Her brothers and sisters said they were better because of her,” Hester shared.
The girls are survived by their parents, siblings, numerous uncles and aunts, and cousins.
“In situations like this, it’s not what you say. It’s just being there,” Hester said. The Hester family has received an outpouring of support from co-workers, church members and neighbors. With the way the Hester girls touched so many lives, Hester believed it was only right to host a large memorial to honor them.
“It’s bigger than us, and I think that’s why it was really important for us to celebrate them the best way we could,” Hester said.
The public memorial celebration will be held for the Hester girls on Oct. 12, 11 a.m., at The Way World Outreach Church, located at 4680 Hallmark Parkway San Bernardino, CA. The family requests that guests who wish to honor the girls’ lives RSVP by Oct. 5 via eventbrite if they plan to attend.
“We’re going to be okay. We got three brand new angels looking out for us, looking out for their siblings, looking out for their cousins. And we’re going to be okay,” Hester declared.