'An Unimaginable Void:' IE College Basketball Player Dies, A Community Vows To Remember Her

VICTORVILLE, CA — "Jhenéy was so much more than a daughter; she was my firstborn, my best friend," her mother, Tamara Wallace, said. The family shared the grim details of the crash that claimed the life of the college basketball player with big dreams of playing in the WNBA, who died suddenly one week ago.

Jhenéy Harris, 20, a resident of Victorville, died on July 15, just before 2 p.m., when a car she was riding in, southbound on I-15 in the Devore area, plummeted from the roadway, according to the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office.

Her family has launched a fundraiser in her memory to cope with the "unimaginable void" the young woman left behind, not just in their hearts, but in the hearts of "everyone she was around."

"She was a loving big sister, cherished granddaughter, niece, cousin, teammate, and friend whose kindness, bright smile, and loving spirit touched so many lives," Wallace said. "Her passing has left an unimaginable void in not just my heart but everyone she was around."

A student-athlete at Victor Valley College, she was riding with a friend and her friend's mother in a vehicle that plunged from the roadway, 80 feet down an embankment. Harris died at the scene, while the other two victims were taken to the hospital, one in critical condition.

Tamara Wallace told reporters that she was calling Jhenéy's cell phone, and was alerted by emergency responders what happened. The college held a memorial for her, celebrating her memory at the Apple Valley campus.

"She was more than a teammate—she was a friend, a daughter, a sister, cousin, granddaughter, and a cherished member of our Ram family whose impact will never be forgotten," they wrote.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has already amassed over $17,000, which her mother hopes will help keep her daughter's memory alive.

"She wanted so much out of life,” Wallace told reporters. “I thank everyone who has reached out to me and for all their prayers and support. I just want to keep my daughter’s name alive.”