A newlywed couple from the Pacific Northwest lost their lives when their SUV collided with a semitruck obstructing both lanes of U.S. 20 east of Bend, Oregon, just 16 days after their wedding. William Micah Carter, 25, known as Billy, and Jennifer Lynn Lower Carter, 24, called Jenny, were returning from their family wedding reception in Idaho when the accident occurred on Nov. 24, 2025.
The couple had been married on Nov. 8, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, and spent a week at Disneyland for their honeymoon before visiting Idaho for a family celebration. They were traveling back to Springfield, Oregon, when the collision occurred. Billy’s father, Dennis Carter, said a police officer informed them that the crash was unavoidable due to the darkness.
“There’s never been a happier marriage on the planet,” Dennis Carter stated. “They never had to spend one minute apart.”
Authorities are investigating whether appropriate warning flares or lights were in place around the stationary semitruck. The driver, Rajinder Kumar, 32, from Fresno, California, faces a first-degree manslaughter charge. The charge suggests reckless disregard for safety, but does not imply intentional harm.
Kumar was initially held on a $100,000 bail at the Deschutes County Jail, which was later increased to $500,000 by a judge. He has a California commercial driver’s license and entered the U.S. illegally from India, though he obtained work authorization in 2023.
The case gained national attention following a U.S. Department of Homeland Security press release on Dec. 1, 2025, which highlighted Kumar’s immigration status and criticized “sanctuary politicians.” The release mentioned both the Biden administration’s issuance of work authorization and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies regarding driver’s licenses.
The unexpected politicization of their children’s deaths caught the families off guard. Elizabeth Carter, Billy’s mother, expressed frustration over the situation. Becky Lower, Jenny’s mother, noted the family was still dealing with their grief when the incident became part of a national debate on immigration.
“Seeing my son’s memory made into a political football is sickening,” Elizabeth Carter remarked.
The couple’s relationship began quickly in 2025. They met in February during a scavenger hunt organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Billy grew up in Springfield, Oregon, after moving from Arizona, while Jenny was from Preston, Idaho, near the Utah border.
After their meeting, the two maintained constant communication through text messages. They officially started dating on May 8, 2025. Billy celebrated his 25th birthday on June 8 and later that summer proposed. The couple became engaged on Aug. 27, 2025. Jenny’s 24th birthday was on Oct. 8.
Billy was interested in physics and enjoyed woodworking. Jenny was a skilled musician who played multiple instruments, adapting easily across musical styles and switching instruments as needed.
Following their November wedding, the couple planned their future together. The Carter family is from Springfield, Oregon, while the Lower family lives in Preston, Idaho. Tom Lower, Jenny’s father, recalled their wedding day as a joyful occasion, with both of them appearing happy.
Both families are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which teaches that marriage continues into eternity. This belief offers some solace as they cope with their loss while Kumar’s case moves through the legal system. His defense attorney has not publicly commented on the case.