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Sgt. Amber L. Weber, 20, of the Brown City area, died at about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 18 in St. Mary's Hospital of Saginaw.

Weber served with the Michigan Army National Guard 363rd Personal Services unit in Lansing as a human services specialist. She was deployed to Iraq in July 2006, and had been home for only about 10 days when the accident occurred, according to Sgt. First Class Robert Vaillancourt, a casualty assistance officer for the Guard.

Weber's deployment period was scheduled to end this month, during her leave. She would have returned to civilian life and continued her monthly obligation to the Lansing unit, Vaillancourt stated.

"It wrenches the heart," said Staff Sgt. Lon Richardson, a Michigan Army National Guard recruiter for the Brown City area. Richardson, a former Sandusky resident, didn't know Amber but recently recruited her brother, Kenneth, for the Guard.

Richardson said the family was "very proud" of Weber's service record. He said the "house is full of pictures" of Weber.

Kenneth Weber joined the Guard last month, in part, because of his sister's commitment, Richardson said.

A 2005 graduate of Peck High School, Weber enlisited in the Guard during her junior year.

"She was a nice girl, always kind to everybody," said Peck Superintendent David Bush. "She did what was right and got along well with everyone."

"She was quiet, a very pleasant girl," added Peck Counselor Paula Davidson.

She also had a sense of humor.

Bob Karasiewicz, Weber's high school social studies teacher, said she sent her bother, Kenneth Ð who is also his student, a toy camel that sang songs in Arabic.

"She was always cheerful," Karasiewicz recalled. "She had a very infectious laugh."

Weber was scheduled to receive military honors at her funeral Monday in Brown City. A 21-gun salute and military pallbearers were planned.

According to the Michigan State Police report, Weber was headed south on Bad Axe Road with her brother, Kenneth, 18, on Oct. 17, when she pulled out in front of a 1996 Chevy mini van at the Bay City-Forestville Road intersection. Her brother told investigating officers she stopped at the stop sign and hit the mini van as she started to make a left turn.

Sara Stein, 28, Harbor Beach was driving west on Bay City-Forestville when her vehicle

struck Weber's 2006 Dodge 4-door at about 3:06 p.m. Oct. 17.

The sister and brother were airlifted from the scene to St. Mary's, where they were initially listed in critical condition. Kenneth was treated and released.

Stein was taken to Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe, where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

All three of them were wearing seat belts.

The crash remains under investigation. Troopers do not suspect alcohol as a factor in the crash.

Trooper Andy Pflaum was assisted at the scene by Accident Reconstructionist Trooper Stone of Lapeer, troopers from the Bad Axe Post, the Bingham Township EMS and Fire Department, MMR Ambulance from Tuscola County, Central Huron North Ambulance, Fight Care from St. Mary's Hospital and LifeNet from Covenant Hospital in Saginaw.