An Omaha couple was killed and their young children injured in a crash west of Kansas City Wednesday morning.

Investigators say Daniel and Marigold Jamela were towing a trailer behind their SUV heading southbound on Interstate 435 when it crossed the median and hit a northbound Federal Express semi head-on near Edwardsville, Kansas.

Their children, 8-year-old Mishael and 6-month-old Mario, were treated at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. The hospital does not have their records in its database, which could mean they were released, but that has not been confirmed.

The semi driver was not hurt. The accident closed parts of I-435 for several hours.

Friends say the family, who lived in Omaha for five years, was moving to Dallas in search of a warmer climate like their native Africa.

"We're still in shock," says friend Donna Firkins. Neighbors near 90th and Fort had just helped Daniel and Marigold load it Tuesday. "And I said we'll exchange Christmas cards and she said that would be wonderful and she said you can have the tomato stands in my back yard. We hugged each other and said goodbye."

"It just kind of breaks your heart," says neighbor Dallas Esser. He says Mishael idolized his dad. "Mishael would always be there behind him. I know Mishael used to have a toy push mower and mow right behind his dad and every time Daniel stopped, he'd run right into his heels."

Daniel worked at Creighton University Medical Center as a registered nurse and was recently voted employee of the month. Marigold was a qualified nurse’s aide, but chose to stay home with the kids.

"If you saw her, you saw her baby, so she was excited about that," says Esser. A statement from Creighton Medical Center reads, “This will be a difficult time as we mourn the loss of a good friend and colleague."

"You're happy that the kids are alive, you just feel bad that they don't have their mom and dad now," says Esser.

While most of the Jamelas relatives are in Zimbabwe, we're told they have some family members in Minnesota who may take care of the children.