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At vigil for salon fire victims, family members and first responders embrace

In a powerful embrace, a man thanked and hugged the officer who risked his life trying to save his mom.

NEW ORLEANS —

Family members, friends and first respondents came together to remember the lives of those lost Wednesday after a deadly accident and fire destroyed the Unity-1 Beauty Supply Hair Salon.

The accident and fire happened Wednesday night around 8:30 pm.

RELATED: 2 dead, 4 hurt after car slams into New Orleans beauty salon, sparking major fire

Beverly Smith spoke at the event thanking everyone for coming out and for their support over the past several days. She’s owned the salon for more than 30 years. It’s become a staple for the community.

The family of Schwann Herbert was also there. Herbert, 54, was a customer of the salon and died from her injuries.

She was getting her hair done at the salon that night, a place she’s been going to for over 20 years. He said he'd give anything just to have her back.

RELATED: 'It's really devastating:' Salon owner remembers third victim of Broadmoor crash

Her son, Anthony Herbert, tearfully spoke about his mother, who was a daycare worker that cared deeply about the ones she loved.

RELATED: Officers re-assigned in deadly Broadmoor salon crash case

And in a tearful embrace, Herbert thanked and hugged the officer who risked his life trying to save his mom.

“She made me one of the most..hardest persons to deal with, the funniest,” Herbert said to the crowd.

"Just two days ago the vehicle I drive she bought. And she told me to my face, ‘Get yourself together, cause I don't know how long I'll be here.' And I wish I could hear those words….right now,” Herbert said.

Vincent Bailey, another relative of Herbert, said he misses her smile and spirit.

“She was a grandma. Her grandchildren, they’ll never see their grandma no more. I’ll never see my oldest niece no more. My sister won’t see her child no more. Her sister won’t see her sister no more. They so terrified, they couldn’t even be here today,” Bailey said.

RELATED: NOPD opening formal investigation into attempted traffic stop that led to fatal crash

“We have two young men that died in the fire, and then you have a young lady that was getting her hair fixed. She died in the fire. And it affected everybody involved. Owners. People that know families. So when we come together as one, I think healing can start to take place," Bailey said. 

June Wilson, the Grandmother of one of the teens who died in the crash, also attended the vigil.

“Stay with your kids. Bond with your kids. Know where they’re going and when they’re coming in,” Wilson said.

RELATED: 'They got people in there!' Video shows hectic moments after car slams into salon, sparking fire

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