22-Year-Old Dad Struck And Killed After Stopping To Help Crash Victim

KEY POINTS

The man was on his way to church when he stopped to assist a car crash victim
Another car slammed into a stationary vehicle and pushed it into the man, who was trying to help
His wife described him as a loving man, who always cared for the people around him

A Tennessee father lost his life as he selflessly stopped to help a car crash victim. The man was struck by another vehicle at the spot and passed away, leaving behind his wife and baby girl just a month after her birth.

Tristan Lemka, 22, was on his way to church when the tragedy took place. The young father was driving on Highway 160 on Sunday when he saw the car crash. He immediately tried to help one of the drivers while the other car came to a half in the left lane, according to PEOPLE. Within moments, another vehicle slammed into the stationary car and pushed it into Tristan as he tried to offer assistance to the motorist.

Tristan’s wife, Taylor Lemka, said she was not at home when she found out about what happened to her husband.

“I was at my Mammy’s house and I have a ring doorbell. And the cops told me over my ring doorbell,” the bereaved wife told ABC affiliate WATE.

Taylor revealed that her husband would preach in church as a fill-in pastor whenever he received a request. He also made trips to the Philippines to preach, she said. “He didn’t think he was a good one. But he was,” Taylor said.

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Taylor and Tristan got married a year ago. They had known each other for years and started dating in high school. The couple became parents in November, and Tristan excitedly welcomed their baby girl to the family.

“He cried. He was super excited,” Taylor said. “He wanted a boy. But, as soon as she came out she was, he was wrapped around her finger.”

“Every time he would come home he would always take her away from me and just talk to her for like an hour,” Taylor added.

She also said she wasn’t surprised that her husband lost his life while trying to help someone in need.

“He’s always caring about everybody else,” said Taylor as she described him as a man, who would do anything for anyone.

“He was always joking. He was always trying to make everybody smile. He literally lit up the room,” she said.

The mourning wife finds solace in knowing that Tristan got a chance to dote on his daughter for a month before he passed away. As she grieves the loss of her husband, Taylor said she hopes their daughter will remember her father for the way he treated others. “Just how good of a person he was. And how caring he was. And how loving he was,” she said.

The family will be laying Tristan to rest on Friday, Dec. 17 after a funeral service at Roe Junction Missionary Baptist Church.