A newlywed couple from the Pacific Northwest died when their SUV struck a semitruck blocking both lanes of U.S. 20 east of Bend, Oregon, just 16 days after exchanging wedding vows. William Micah Carter, 25, known as Billy, and Jennifer Lynn Lower Carter, 24, called Jenny, were returning from their wedding reception in Idaho when the collision occurred on Nov. 24, 2025.

The couple had married on Nov. 8, 2025, in Portland and spent a week honeymooning at Disneyland before traveling to Idaho for a celebration with family. They were heading back to Springfield, Oregon, when the crash occurred. Billy’s father, Dennis Carter, said a police officer informed him and his wife that the crash was unavoidable in the darkness.

“There’s never been a happier marriage on the planet,” Dennis Carter said. “They never had to spend one minute apart.”

Investigators are examining whether proper warning flares or lights were placed around the disabled semitruck. The driver, Rajinder Kumar, 32, of Fresno, California, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter. The charge alleges reckless disregard for safety but does not accuse him of intentionally causing the deaths.

Kumar was initially held on $100,000 bail at the Deschutes County Jail, but a judge later increased the amount to $500,000. He holds a commercial driver’s license issued in California and entered the United States illegally from India, though he received work authorization in 2023.

The case drew national attention when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a press release on Dec. 1, 2025, highlighting Kumar’s immigration status and criticizing what it called “sanctuary politicians.” The release referenced both the Biden administration’s issuance of work authorization and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s state policies regarding driver’s licenses.

The sudden politicization of their children’s deaths caught both families unprepared. Elizabeth Carter, Billy’s mother, expressed frustration at how the incident was being used. Becky Lower, Jenny’s mother, said the family was still processing the loss when the story became part of a national immigration debate.

“Seeing my son’s memory made into a political football is sickening,” Elizabeth Carter said.

The couple’s romance unfolded quickly in 2025. They met in February at a scavenger hunt organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Billy had grown up in Springfield after his family moved from Arizona. Jenny had grown up in Preston, Idaho, near the Utah border.

After their initial meeting, the pair kept in constant contact through text messages. They made their relationship official on May 8, 2025. Billy celebrated his 25th birthday on June 8, and later that summer, he proposed. The couple became engaged on Aug. 27, 2025. Jenny’s 24th birthday followed on Oct. 8.

Billy had an interest in physics and enjoyed creating woodworking projects. Jenny was an accomplished musician who played multiple instruments. She could adapt easily between different musical styles and readily switched instruments when needed.

After the November wedding, the couple made plans for their future together. The Carter family is from Springfield, Oregon, while the Lower family resides in Preston, Idaho. Tom Lower, Jenny’s father, recalled the wedding day as a joyful occasion where both Billy and Jenny appeared jubilant.

Both families are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which teaches that marriage continues beyond death into eternity. This belief provides some comfort as they navigate their grief while Kumar’s case proceeds through the legal system. His defense attorney has not commented publicly on the case.