Volunteers, Generous Customers at Car Washes Help Pay for Amber's Funeral

More than 40 volunteers helped out at car washes Saturday and Sunday at Citrus Valley High to raise money for the funeral of Amber Ann Muschwitz, 18, of Redlands.

Amber was fatally struck by a car in Highland while walking home Sept. 12, 2012.

"It was a horrible accident, and we want people to know our family has no animosity to the man who was driving the car," Holly Noe, Amber's half-sister, said at Citrus Valley High on Sunday.

"It's just a tragedy, the first time our family has gone through something like this, losing someone so young," Noe said. "I'm sure the driver and his family are going through a lot of the same things and we are praying for them as well."

Maddy Montiel, a junior at Citrus Valley High, organized the car washes and she estimated about 50 people helped out Saturday and Sunday. Maddy said Amber was her best friend.

Thanks to everyone's hard work, and the generosity of people who came to get their vehicles washed, the car washes raised substantial donations for Amber's funeral, family members said.

Amber was a member of Citrus Valley High's first-ever graduating class in June.

Funeral services are planned to begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday Sept. 18 at Hollywood Forever Chapel, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood, Amber's family announced Sunday.

Follow Redlands-Loma Linda Patch on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for the free daily newsletter here.