YOUNGSTOWN — When Tiara Whatley, 35, a nurse and mother of four, was killed last week in a crash on Interstate 680, the world lost a “very nice and pleasant” young woman, said her mother, Tyra Brodie.

Brodie thinks her daughter’s caring personality is why she went into nursing, graduating as a licensed practical nurse from the Choffin Career Center last June. She worked in Omni Manor nursing home in the city.

Whatley leaves behind four children, between 7 and 18 years old, including 11-year-old twins.

“My daughter has four children, and it’s really rough on them,” Brodie said.

Youngstown police have not released many details except the crash happened at 10:44 p.m. and involved a head-on collision near the Glenwood Avenue exit. Whatley was northbound.

The Youngstown Police Department has asked for anyone with information about the crash to contact it at 220-742-8946 or call Crime Stoppers at 330-746-CLUE.

Brodie said Tiara’s sister, Sharenda Whatley, 32, also was in her sister’s car at the time of the crash and suffered numerous broken bones in her arms and legs. She had surgery Monday, and doctors are still trying to locate and stop internal bleeding, Brodie said.

Brodie said Sharenda also was in danger of dying the first two or three days. Her injuries are still “real serious,” but she’s doing better, her mother said.

“All I know is a young lady got on the freeway going the wrong direction and hit the median. That’s all I know,” Brodie said of what police have told her about the crash.

Dawn Callier, a cousin of the Whatleys, said losing Tiara is “really hard. This is tragic. It hurts. It’s hard on her kids and seeing them go through this.”

She added, “We just had a party for her graduation from nursing school. This doesn’t make any sense to me.”