9-year-old girl of I-90 crash dies

A 9-year-old girl who was critically injured in a massive 14-vehicle pile up on Interstate 90 earlier this week has died.

Family members took Rachel Beckwith off life-support Saturday evening at Harborview Medical Center.

Rachel severed her spinal cord in that accident, but her passion to help others inspired an entire community as her grief-stricken family held vigil for her at Harborview Medical Center.

Loved ones of the 9-year-old want her selfless passion to live on.

Veronica Del Rosario says her niece always wanted to help others and set out before the crash to raise $300 to pay for clean water in developing countries.

"She cares about other people more than herself," says Veronica. "For her birthday, she didn't want any presents. She told us not buy her presents. She wanted everyone to give money so that children and parents could have water."

But then the accident struck, and Rachel's pastor at church decided to keep promoting her fund-raising mission for the nonprofit group Charity Water.

The church used Facebook and Twitter to encourage people to give - and thousands of dollars started pouring in by the hour.

"She did what she could, and now she can't, but we could pick up where she left off," says Pastor Jeremy Johnson.

Rachel had been on life support since shortly after the crash, but family members decided they would say their final goodbyes - then tell doctors to disconnect the machines. Family members say they will donate her organs.

They add even in Rachel's final hours, she kept teaching others how to give.

"We just want to say thank you to everyone who's been praying for her. And we want to invite everybody to the service tomorrow," says Veronica.