( CNN ) A couple in their 20s , who led a youth ministry , and their baby boy were driving underneath a highway overpass in Bonney Lake , a Seattle suburb , when other motorists heard the crackle of a pending collapse . Concrete from a construction project crashed onto the family 's car , killing Josh and Vanessa Ellis and their 8-month-old son , Hudson , authorities said . `` The damage was so severe it was impossible to tell how many victims were in the vehicle . The only thing we had was we could tell there was one victim , '' said Officer Todd Green of Bonney Lake Police Department , according to CNN affiliate KOMO . It took nine hours Monday for crews to remove enough debris to discover the death toll on Angeline Road underneath State Route 410 , authorities said . Authorities continued their investigation Tuesday , but initial findings were that there was an ongoing construction project on the highway and a side jersey barrier `` came loose and fell onto the roadway , '' Green told the station . `` When it fell off the overpass , it landed square on the roof of the vehicle , '' Green added . Josh and Vanessa Ellis were youth pastors at the EastPointe Foursquare Church in Puyallup , near Bonney Lake , the church said . The couple earlier wrote a short autobiography on the church website : `` We love to laugh . We are passionate about seeing young people discover the love and grace that Jesus abundantly pours out on them . `` We get really excited about good coffee , quality time with friends and Seattle welcoming an NBA basketball team back to our city , '' the couple wrote . `` We love drive-in movies , frozen yogurt , dates to IKEA and trips to the beach . '' Lead Pastor James Ludlow said his church was reeling . `` We are stunned ! Shocked ! Wounded , broken and dismayed . But we know one thing for sure ... they are in glory in the loving arms of our King Jesus ! '' Ludlow said on the church 's Facebook page . Motorist Dawn Nelson was driving behind the Ellis ' vehicle . `` I was just a second or two behind him , '' Nelson told KOMO . `` I could hear the three crunch sounds and then it just came down . '' Neighbors recounted a violent collapse . `` I thought a semi had come down the guardrail here in front , '' neighbor Katie Vance told the station . She felt the crash inside her home . `` It was a metal sound and a very heavy sound ... it was through your feet - like a guttural . It shook the whole house , '' she told the affiliate . CNN 's Amanda Watts contributed to this story .
Josh and Vanessa Ellis , a couple in their 20s , were youth pastors in a suburban Seattle church . They and their 8-month-old son , Hudson , are killed when a highway barrier falls on their car . `` We are stunned ! Shocked ! '' the church 's lead pastor writes on Facebook .