Very sad! May they rest in peace.

So devastating....our thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by this terrible loss!

I'm certain I can speak for the rest of British Columbia when I say how terribly sorry I am for the loss of this special family to your community. As visitors, they were in our care and we failed to return them safely to you. My most heart felt condolences to all who knew them.

My deepest sympathy to their family and friends. This is such a terrible and heartbreaking loss.

I worked with Robert at Apple and will always remember him for his friendliness, his stamina and his talents. My sympathy goes to the family.

My heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends and community among which this beautiful family flourished. My thoughts and prayers go out to you from Vancouver, Canada.

We talked about a project before he went on his vacation. How sad for their life shorten and my dear friends lost. My heart felt condolences to his family and friends..

As a Canadian living in Palo Alto, please let me express my sincerest sympathies to the entire Howard/Dias family. I know that my fellow Canadians are also deeply affected by this terrible tragedy and feel your loss.

That was so nice what Warren said. As someone who will miss all that Ana-Maria did and how nice it always was to see her, I am forever changed. So sorry for the whole family and community.

Thank you, Canadian neighbors, for the kind words you have left here. We are lucky to have you up north.

So sad to lose this vibrant family. May those who love them find peace.

Very sad situation. Maybe I'm missing something, but why would the Weekly's reporters call the Palo Alto police about this?

This is so tragic and heartbreaking. I'm at a loss for words. My sincerest condolences to the family and friends. May their loved ones rest in peace.

To TM:
Because the Canadian RMPD only had an auto license plate to go on - and needed information re: the family asap. Otherwise, the RMPD didn't know who they were. And the Weekly went to the only source it could go to as the PAPD searched for family/friends here.

As a resident of British Columbia I join the rest of Canada in expressing our profound sympathy to family and friends. Although it will not bring this lovely family back, please be assured that this will be investigated thoroughly by highly skilled and dedicated collision professionals and charges laid after all possibilities as to cause are examined.

As a Canadian, it drives me mad that our highway system is so ancient compared the the US Interstate systems that was in place 60 years ago. I have to drive on 9 miles of gravel road to visit my parents' ranch. It would only be one mile, but somebody (one person) objected to the plan to pave a stretch of road and so they didn't. And Calgary (1 million people) can't have a ring road because a few hundred people on the neighboring Native reserve don't want it.

Double trailors may be cost effective but they do not belong on wet mountain roads - hard to control if the conditions include curves, steep hills, water on road and long tiring drives.

This is truly a sad and senseless tragedy, and one that could have been avoided if only Canadian government officials would get down to the costly but ultimately unavoidable business of twinning/dividing all the main highways in British Columbia. As it is, thousands of miles of major roadways in that province -- including most of the enormously popular and heavily used Trans-Canada -- are no more than two lanes (one in each direction), with the occasional stretch of third lane for passsing. In these sections there are no barriers whatsoever to separate the opposing flows and shield vehicles and their occupants from oncoming traffic that may go astray due to weather conditions, mechanical failure, or driver error. American tourists are a vital consitituent of the Canadian economy, so YOU can help make a real difference and prevent more senseless losses by e-mailing or writing the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, or the Premier of British Columbia, Christy Clark (just google their names for contact info) and letting them know that you are appalled by the state of BC's highway system, and will not be vacationing in Canada unless and until their respective governments get down to business and complete a comprehensive twinning of the major roadways so that you and your families will enjoy a more reasonable level of safety on Canada's roads. Thank you, and God bless the family and those they've left behind to mourn.

Ugh, this is so tragic - the Howards were great people and great friends, who I haven't stayed in touch with nearly enough for the last few years. A bunch of us used to go camping in the desert every year, with their beloved little camper Edwina as the "mother ship". Robert had the quickest wit of anyone I've ever known, and Ana-Maria was so sweet and giving. I haven't seen the girls for a couple years, but Ana-Maria and Robert were doing a great job of raising smart and interesting kids. They'll all be missed.

Thanks, Gennady and Tyler, for a nice article that captures them well. Small correction: Robert's company was Lunar Design(lunar.com)

So sad :'(

Its absolutely amazing how one minute your enjoying your life and the next minute its all over. Any one event could have changed this. Spending a couple minutes at a gas station or stopping some place for a washroom break. For them to be at that spot at that second to be hit its just mind numbing.

I hope it was a mechanical failure and not something as senseless as a driver falling asleep.

From BC

You never said "I'm leaving"
You never said goodbye
You were gone before I knew it,
And only God knew why

A million times I needed you,
A million times I cried
If Love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died

In Life I loved you dearly
In death I love you still
In my heart you hold a place,
That no one could ever fill

Another correction, more important: please add a "www" to the URL - Web Link . I'll report this to the site administrator, but at the moment you need the "www" to get in.

Thank you, Jamie. It's been corrected.

Thanks again,

Gennady

This is such a horrible tragedy! It is very hard to accept the reality that this wonderful family has perished...
Ana Maria and I met at Philips Semiconductors (Sunnyvale) in mid 90's and became friends very fast. Ana Maria was a Sales Engineer at that time and one of the best I knew. I have always been very impressed by Ana Maria's intelligence, strong convictions and independent thinking, her practical and creative ways. She cherished a deep love for her family and was a very dedicated parent and wife.
My deepest condolences go to Howard and Dias families, Samantha's and Veronica's classmates, all their friends, colleagues and neighbors.
So, so sad....

The loss of this beautiful family is a devasting loss to our community. Although I did know them, I am so saddened. My deepest condolences to everyone who knew them.

This accident has deeply saddened many, many people in Western Canada. We take pride in our abilty to safely host and entertain our American friends and neighbors who visit us.
I was on the highway that day, and wondered who was involved in this horrific accident. When the news came out it was a family of four, with young children, it hit all of us very hard.
Our sincere condolences go out to the good people of Palo Alto, for this devasting loss. We are thinking of you and wish we could do something, anything to help.
As I drive this highway often, my family and I will place flowers at the sad location of the accident. For what it is worth, the vista's and scenery in this valley are amazing. The Howard Dias family went to heaven from a beautiful place, now a sad place for all of us.
We will remember them......

See this piece of video Web Link which shows the area where this horrific accident occurred. I think at 01:52 (travelling north to south), and 02:52? (travelling south to north) in the video is the location.

I drive that road regularly and have seen many lives lost due to its high mountain design. I drove past the site yesterday and it brought tears to my eyes. I am so sorry to everyone for their loss. Revelation 21:4 holds much comfort to a future when we can be reunited with our loved ones.

As a resident of Vancouver I have been affected by this tragic story. I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the Howard Diaz family.

Their deaths have brought more than just thoughts to the forefront~ May we all stop in silence and reflect within ourselves on how wonderful life is and what we can do to make each day better than the day before.
So sorry for the early loss of this wonderfully close family.
Many of us do not have close family~ to those of you, be sure to keep smiling as that is like looking in the mirror~ those around you will return the gesture, even if it takes a few reflections....keep the faith.............

Email to make the BC roads as safe as possible for everyone! So sorry for this family loss! Lets create positive change to the roads.

Email Address
[email protected]

Mailing Address
The Honourable Christy Clark
Premier of British Columbia
Box 9041
Station PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC

Web Link
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Fax: 613-941-6900