DEARBORN COUNTY, Ind. (WKRC) – The two families who were involved in a head-on collision are mourning the loss of their children.

17-year-old Reese Hayes and 22-year-old Zachary Hedges died at the scene of the accident.

Hayes was driving east on Harrison-Brookville Road just before 5 a.m. Friday. The initial report said she crossed the road left of center and collided with Hedges, who was driving west. Both victims were at the beginning of their lives.

Hedges graduated from Franklin County High School in 2020. Hayes attended East Central High School.

The Hedges family has not commented at this time. Local 12 spoke with Hayes’ mother, who is heartbroken for her daughter, the Hedges family and her 16-month-old granddaughter, Renee. Renee has already lost her father and now her mother.

Emilie Kenney fought back tears as she read her daughter’s obituary.

“She was born on September 14, 2006 and is still alive today, which is Friday, August 16. She leaves behind her daughter Renee Hartman, her father Sean Hayes and her mother myself,” Kenney said.

Kenney and her husband knew about the accident before the sheriff’s office could reach them. She said her husband was getting ready for work and thought he recognized one of the cars on the news. He immediately called Emilie to meet her at the scene of the accident.

“They (police) said they were her tattoos, and I knew it was them. I knew it was her, but I showed him a picture anyway, (just) because I hoped it wasn’t. And I said, ‘Was that the driver?’ He said, ‘Yeah,'” Kenney said.

Kenney said Hayes lived with her father and didn’t know where she was going that early in the morning. She is desperate to know what led to the accident.

“I just feel bad for them (the Hedges). I’m so sorry. If Reese was at fault, I know it wasn’t intentional. She would never have meant to hurt anyone,” Kenney said.

Reese Hayes’ pride and joy was her baby Renee. Kenney said the father died before he got to meet his daughter.

“We’re going to try to bury her next to him so Renee has a place to go to see her parents because she doesn’t have any right now,” Kenney said.

Hayes worked as a lifeguard and studied for her degree. Kenney jokingly described her daughter as a “baby with a baby,” but she did her best.

“She was so fun-loving. She was my Reese Pieces,” Kenney said.

Kenney said Renee can babble words like dog, daddy and mommy.

The sheriff said Hedges and Hayes were the only two people involved in the accident.