‘She was family’: Mom killed in I-485 crash leaves behind legacy of helping others

BELMONT, N.C. — A mother, her husband and their two daughters were all killed in a devastating crash on Interstate 485 in north Charlotte late Friday.

Andrea Obester not only leaves behind a 14-year-old son, but also a home filled with animals she was trying to rehabilitate and find forever homes.

“‘No’ wasn’t an answer. ‘How we can do this?' was the answer,” family friend Libby Dal Santo said.

Two women worked hand in hand with Obester, who founded Angel Ark Animal Rescue in Belmont, an animal rescue she ran out of their home.

Friends said it’s the same kindness she extended to anyone.

“If you didn’t have a place to lay your head at night, she would say, ‘There’s my couch. My front door’s open,‘” Santo said.

Since Friday, both women have been finding homes for the animals the Obesters loved as a family. As many as five rescues stepped in to help almost immediately.

“It feels unreal. She wasn’t a friend, she was family,” Santo said.

It’s a love for animals Obester shared with her two little girls. Another friend described their love for horses. One of them affectionately known as “little cowgirl.”

“If there was an open weekend, we were on horseback with the girls,” family friend Melissa Yoannon said.

On Monday, the family’s last rescue found a home of one of their closest friends and with a name to honor Obester’s legacy.

“Dr. Dre. That would be a good name for you. It’s a boy version of Drea. So he will forever stay with me,” family friend Ashley Jenkins said.

A local pub is also stepping up to host a fundraiser for their 14-year-old son. The data for the fundraiser at Sammy’s has not been set. They are looking at a time next week.

A GoFundMe page that’s been set up for their son has raised more than $11,000 in the past 24 hours.

Trooper investigating fatal I-485 crash critically hurt after car collides with patrol cruiser Trooper investigating fatal I-485 crash critically hurt after car collides with patrol cruiser

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