Adam and Abigail Jacksonwere among 20 people killed on Oct. 6, 2018 when the party limousine they were in crashed in the rural town of Schoharie in upstate New York. The couple left behind two children and several loved ones still struggling to come to terms with the loss a year later.
Justin Cushing, Adam’s longtime friend who served as his best man, says the last year has been “tough,” but that the Jackson’s children — Elle, 2, and Archer, 5 — are doing well in their grandparents’ care.
“Every time I see them, they’re the happiest little kids,” Cushing — who also lost his brotherPatrick Cushing and cousin Erin McGowanin the crash — tells PEOPLE. “It’s nice to see them out running around. They’re the cutest little kids, they’re sweet.”
As for how Elle and Archer have dealt with the circumstances, “They’ve been doing as well as you could expect,” says Justin, who told PEOPLE last year that Abigail and Adam were “amazing” and “devoted” parents.
“I’m sure it’s tough,” he says of life one year later. “I know it’s tough on [their grandparents].”
For his part, Justin is still coping with loss of his best friend Adam, whom he’s known since their time playing baseball in grade school.
“You don’t have too many people that are with you through all of your phases of life as you get older,” Justin, 35, tells PEOPLE. “Those are the people you really cherish … those are the types of people that you really can’t replace. That makes it extra difficult when you lose someone like Adam.”
Justin described Abigail and Adam as longtime sweethearts who cherished being parents to their two young children. Over the course of their 15-year friendship, Justin was able to see first-hand Adam and Abigail’s relationship evolve from a budding romance to a loving marriage.
Photos of those killed in limo crash on Oct. 6, 2018.Courtesy Justin Cushing
AGoFundMe pageset up in the wake of the death has raised more than $156,000. According to the campaign, donations raised from the page are given to the children’s grandmother Beth for expenses and schooling as the children grow up without their parents.
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Justin has grown closer with Adam and Abigail’s family since the accident, and a few of their relatives even attended Justin’s wedding last month.
source: people.com
