Days after a fiery crash on Interstate 10 left four dead and eight injured, the victims are starting to be named and memorialized.

Dustin Cluff, a father of three from Prescott Valley, was killed in the crash alongside his girlfriend, Melinda Kobold, a resident of Peoria. They were returning from an off-roading trip to the California dunes.

Niki Cluff, Dustin's ex-wife and the mother of his three children, recalled him as an "adrenaline junkie" who was also a rock in his children's lives.

"The girls were supposed to have dinner with him when he came back," she said of her two daughters who were supposed to meet up with their dad the day of the crash.

"He definitely worked hard and played harder," Niki recalled of Dustin, who was a huge fan of rock climbing, mountain biking and heavy metal music, she said. "Out of all the dangerous things he's done, it was a mundane drive home that took him."

Joey Kobold, the younger brother of Melinda, 38, who also lost her life in the multi-vehicle accident, remembered his sister as "adventurous," "outgoing" and a devoted mom of two boys. "She was a phenomenal mother who loved her kids dearly and would do everything for them," he said.

Multiple vehicles caught fire after the crash. Photos supplied by DPS showed several vehicles scorched by fire and intact tractor-trailers positioned along the shoulder of the interstate.

While what caused the crash was not immediately known, authorities have since said the unusually windy conditions likely affected visibility and contributed to the crash.

"I've seen people trying to place blame on the carelessness of drivers, and not understanding that the families affected by this are grieving," said Kobold. "People want to say it was preventable, but every witness from the scene confirmed that visibility was near zero. This was just a freak occurrence."

Kobold said he found out about the tragic news when two state troopers showed up on his doorstep. He has since created a GoFundMe page to help raise money for his nephews.

"The outpouring of support and condolences from friends and family has been tremendous," said Kobold. "We are beyond thankful."

Niki said she and Dustin were in their early 20s when they first became parents. "He was such an important part of the kid's lives," she said.

She also started a GoFundMe page to help "move the kids through tragedy."

"The girls are struggling to believe it's real," said Niki. "It doesn't feel real." She thinks her oldest may be hit the hardest. "He looked up to his father so much and spent probably the most time with his dad," Niki said.

Collisions involving multiple vehicles and multiple fatalities on Arizona's roads have been relatively rare recently.

In January 2023, five people died in a six-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 near Chandler Boulevard.

A semitruck driver who was distracted by social media did not stop for slowing traffic, crashing into vehicles in front of him. He pled guilty to negligent homicide in the deaths and was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.