Family members mourn woman who died in overnight wreck

Aviolent head-on collisionkilled a Fort Bliss soldier and a 30-year-old woman.

Police say the woman was driving the wrong way on Interstate 10 west near the McRae overpass on the freeway.

The name of the soldier hasn’t been released.

The woman who died in the wreck is Nora Padilla.

Family members told ABC-7they’re heartbroken right now.

They saidPadilla celebrated her 30th birthday just weeks ago.

“In the morning my aunt gave me a phone call. It was one of the worst phone calls I’ve received,” said Nora Padilla’s cousin, Veronica Padilla.

Shetold ABC-7 she wasn’t prepared to hear what her aunt was about to tell her. She was told her Padilla was involved was in a crash, a crash that killed her and a soldier.

“I was with her when she took her first steps. My mom would take care of her when she was a baby,” said Veronica.

The video from the wreckshows Nora Padilla’s car mangled anda motorcycle in pieces scattered along the freeway.

For the family, finding out Nora Padilla was driving on the wrong side of the freeway is just baffling.

“I’m just like how? I don’t understand. I’m thinking how, what happened, I don’t know.” said Veronica.

Veronica told ABC-7thatNora Padilla had an outgoing personality.

“Always with a smile on her face. If you wanted to feel happy you’d go and call Nora and just start laughing with her,” said Veronica.

Friends of Norasaid she was a writer for a local magazine.

Veronica toldABC-7 Nora was looking to help those in troubled times.

“She would help people out, her job was working with adolescents in trouble and from whatI know her job was everything to her,” said Veronica.

VeronicatoldABC-7 it’s a tragic situation for everyone involved, but it’s hard for her to believe that Nora, who’d brought so much life, lost hers.

“I want people to know that Nora was giving, always a smile on her face anything you needed Nora was there for you and likeI said, she could make a gloomy day bright,” she said.

Police have not said what leadNora to start heading the wrong way on I-10.