The sudden loss of the 48-year-old has left a deep and painful void, one that her sister and daughter are still coming to terms with.

It was not immediately clear what led the National Transportation Safety Board to get involved in the Texas case.

Companioni, 27, was driving his 18-wheeler when he failed to see stalled traffic around 2:40 p.m. on June 28, striking a Ford F-150 carrying five people, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.