Newly engaged woman killed in Fort Worth accident; Fiancé was the only survivor

FORT WORTH, Texas – The mother of a woman who died in a crash in Fort Worth over the weekend spoke to FOX 4 about the bright future her daughter was looking forward to with her fiancé.

Chelsea Cook and a family of four were killed in a head-on crash on Northwest Loop 820 early Sunday morning.

Cook's family is celebrating her life and supporting her fiancé's recovery. Evan Ranallo was the sole survivor of the fiery crash that killed five people.

Cook was 33 and excited to plan her wedding.

“She just got engaged three weeks ago. And her fiancé has been together for four years,” Cook's mother, Laurel Summerfield, explained. “He showed us a picture of the ring he had designed and made by her best friend, a jewelry designer in Santa Fe.”

Cook's joy and life were interrupted while her fiancé had to fight for his.

“If there was anything he could have done to keep her alive, he would have,” Summerfield said.

It was Sunday around 3:30 am. According to police, a car carrying a family of four – two parents and two children – drove the wrong way on Northwest Loop 820 and crashed into the newly engaged couple. All four people in the family car died along with Cook.

Summerfield says Ranallo played a guitar gig with his bandmates on Saturday night.

Chelsea Cook and Evan Ranallo (family photo)

“After the show was over, one of the things he always did – and Chelsea was with him that night – was drag all the band equipment back to the rehearsal room, leave the equipment and trailer there, and they drove home. That's why.” They were out at 3:30 in the morning.

Ranallo didn't initially know that his fiancée had died. His family broke the news to him at the hospital as soon as he could communicate.

Police have no answers as to why the driver of the family's vehicle was traveling east in the westbound lane, and they may never know.

“Due to the condition of their bodies from the fire, we will probably never take blood alcohol levels,” Summerfield said.

The grieving mother says her family relies on each other to get through this difficult time.

“From the moment we found out we wouldn't fall into a ball and be ruined, that's been our promise to Chelsea,” Summerfield said. “We will be happy again.”

Chelsea Cook (family photo)

As for the deceased family of four in the car that was driving the wrong way, the coroner has yet to officially identify the victims.