SAN DIEGO -- Grieving family members spoke out Wednesday about a Carlsbad family that was killed after the van they were in plowed into the back of a stalled big rig on Interstate 5 early Tuesday morning, 10News reported.

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DEADLY CRASH Family Grieves Loss Of Two Generations Deadly Minivan, Big Rig Crash

The accident took the lives of Robert and Maria Jennings and their 19-year-old grandson, David Jennings Jr.

According to 10News, the Jennings were on their way to the airport to visit one of their sons who lives in Barbados. Their 19-year-old grandson was not going on the trip -- he was just dropping them off at the airport.

In an instant, two generations were lost, and family and friends are doing their best to remain as positive as possible.

David Jennings Sr., the father of the younger Jennings, said, "(David) would never say anything nasty about anybody. He was just a good-natured young man."

The elder Jennings is comfortable with the belief his son is resting with the angels.

"No one wants to lose their parents and certainly not their son or daughters. But if you had a choice to leave this world, the choice of leaving this world side by side with your parents is a consoling thought," the elder Jennings said.

For the past two years, the younger Jennings had lived with his grandparents in Carlsbad. His parents and four sisters have flown in from Ohio.

Jessica Jennings, who is two years than David Jennings Jr., promises to never forget.

"I found his ring and wanted to wear it so I put it on with the cross because I know that they both meant a lot to him because he always wears them both," Jessica Jennings said.

A student at Mira Costa College, Jennings Jr. had plans to transfer to the University of California, San Diego, to pursue a career in medicine. His grandfather was a retired colonel in the United States Air Force

"We (were) the first graduating class from the Air Force Academy," said Larry Thompson, a close family friend and military buddy of Robert Jennings.

Thompson said Robert Jennings flew missions during the Vietnam War and also worked on the Maverick missile program.

"You never know what's going to happen to you and when it does, I think it helps a lot to know that you didn't take things too much for granted -- that you nurtured those relationships," Thompson said.

Before his passing, David Jennings Jr. was working on a 5K run to raise money for students in need.

His dad said that if people want to pay tribute to his son, contact the school and find out how they can help.