A northern Idaho family is grieving the sudden loss of a father and son after a Memorial Day crash claimed both of their lives just days before a graduation celebration and a planned missionary departure.
According to EastIdahoNews.com, 48-year-old Josh Pilch and 18-year-old Coy Jensen died Monday afternoon in a head-on collision on US-95 south of Sagle near Sandpoint. Idaho State Police reported that Jensen was driving a red 2011 Buick LaCrosse southbound around 1:25 p.m. when the vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a northbound 2021 Dodge Ram 2500.
Josh Pilch and Coy Jensen died at the scene. Authorities transported two people from the Dodge Ram to local hospitals, including one person who was flown by air ambulance.
Family members, friends, and community members have since shared tributes and memories online as they mourn the loss of both men. A GoFundMe campaign organized by Zach James, who serves in the leadership of the family’s local church congregation, described the close bond Josh and Coy shared and the impact they had on people around them.
McCoy “Coy” Jensen. | FacebookA Graduation Week Marked by Loss
Coy Jensen had planned to graduate from Sandpoint High School this week with high honors. Zach James wrote on the GoFundMe page that Coy had also prepared to leave for a two-year mission to Chile for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints later this summer.
“He will now be serving from the other side,” James wrote.
James described Coy as someone who consistently looked for ways to help and encourage others. He wrote that Coy “had a gift for making people feel cared for and loved” and noted that “his laugh was contagious, his smile could light up any room, and he freely gave hugs that made others feel valued and important.”
Friends and community members echoed those descriptions in social media posts following the crash. Ashley Johnson recalled the friendship Coy formed with her son during a Church trek last summer and wrote that Coy had become “such a good example” to him.
“It’s 2am and I’m laying in bed crying,” Johnson wrote. “I’m not sure how to break the news tomorrow morning. I’m glad they got pictures together.”
James also highlighted Coy’s involvement in school and church activities. He said Coy participated on the swim team, remained active in his congregation, and earned recognition as “Student of the Month” at Sandpoint High School earlier this year.
FacebookEven during difficult moments, James wrote that Coy continued encouraging others around him. “Even during difficult times and the hardest swim practices, Coy still found a way to smile and help others keep going,” he wrote.
In a Facebook group dedicate to his memory, Chelsea Wilson shared similar memories as she reflected on the way Coy interacted with younger children and families around him. She wrote that her children “absolutely adored him” and remembered him carrying “little hands, backpacks, beach toys, and responsibilities without ever acting too cool for it.”
Wilson said those moments reflected the example set by Josh and Kim Pilch and the kind of family they raised together. “These pictures feel sacred now,” she wrote. “Tiny glimpses into who McCoy really was every day. A good, steady, loving young man who left fingerprints on so many hearts.”
Remembering Josh Pilch
Friends described Josh Pilch as hardworking, loyal, and deeply devoted to his family. James wrote on the fundraiser page that Josh loved God, valued his independence, and cared deeply for his eight children.
“Josh was the kind of man who would help at the drop of a hat—loyal, hardworking, and fiercely independent,” James wrote. “Rough around the edges but full of heart.”
FacebookJames also described Josh as someone who spoke honestly and directly. “He was genuine to the core: if he cared about you, you knew it, and if he didn’t, he wouldn’t pretend,” he wrote.
Luke Webster shared condolences online and said he would miss Josh deeply. “Joshua Pilch I will miss you brother,” Webster wrote.
Chelsea Wilson, who identified Kim Pilch as a close friend, also reflected on Josh’s work ethic and personality. She said friends affectionately referred to him as “Captain Pilch.”
“Josh was incredibly skilled in his trade, worked harder than most people I’ve ever known, and when he spoke, you knew he meant every word,” Wilson wrote.
Neighbor Brian Dale said he struggled to process the news after learning about the deaths.
“I am in disbelief,” Dale wrote. “These folks are my neighbors. Such a beautiful family, wonderful kids, and Josh had a heart so big you could see it when he smiled and waved.”
FacebookWilson also shared memories of Coy and described him as one of her children’s favorite people. She recalled that Coy had recently selected clothes to pass down to her son, Aiden.
“Those clothes feel even more sacred now,” she wrote.
Family and Community Rally Around Survivors
Josh and Coy leave behind a large family, including Josh’s wife and Coy’s mother, Kim Pilch. James also identified Chad Jensen and siblings Mailee, McKinley, Bennett, Myelle, Georgia, Haven, and Bode among surviving family members.
James wrote that the family now faces emotional and financial burdens following the sudden deaths. He asked community members to support the family during what he described as “this very difficult transition.”
Several social media posts reflected both grief and faith as friends processed the tragedy. Chelsea Wilson wrote that the experience had deeply affected her family as they simultaneously welcomed a newborn child while mourning the deaths of Josh and Coy.
“In one breath, we are holding new life for the very first time, and in the next, we are grieving lives that were deeply loved and cherished,” Wilson wrote.
FacebookMelenie Kidd also encouraged people to cherish time with loved ones as she reflected on memories shared with the family.
“Life is so fragile,” Kidd wrote. “Love your people. Tell them often and show them too.”
Community members have continued offering prayers and support for the family in the days following the crash. Many posts focused on the relationships Josh and Coy built through family life, church participation, school activities, and friendships formed throughout the Sandpoint area.
The Memorial Day collision has left a grieving family preparing for funerals instead of graduation celebrations and missionary farewells. Friends say the influence Josh and Coy carried into the lives of others will remain with the people who knew and loved them.
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As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to bear one another’s burdens and lighten life’s load. Through The Giving Corner, we highlight families who could use a helping hand, giving you an opportunity to serve in love. LDS Daily shares these stories to promote charitable efforts within the Latter-day Saint community. We do not endorse or verify the authenticity of each fundraiser, and we encourage readers to use their best judgment when donating.
Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.
