BOSTON -- Angel Del Valle, the husband of the woman killed in Monday's ceiling collapse in an Interstate 90 connector tunnel, talked Thursday about the horror of the accident and his questions about why it happened in the first place.

NewsCenter 5's Jorge Quiroga reported that Del Valle, 46, has been surrounded and consoled by family members since the accident Monday, when his wife Milena, 38, was crushed to death as the couple was traveling to Logan International Airport to pick up relatives who were returning from a vacation.

Several 3-ton ceiling panels broke loose and smashed into the Del Valle car as they headed toward the Ted Williams Tunnel. Angel escaped with minor injuries by climbing out a small opening on the driver's side of the car.

Angel Del Valle spent Thursday making funeral and memorial service plans.

"It was very difficult because her face was so badly injured. It was very difficult for me to accept it was her," Del Valle told reporters in Spanish.

Milena's smile was the last thing her husband remembered seeing.

"It was a matter of seconds. We were driving along very happy to the airport to pick up my brother and his wife. Within seconds it all fell. There was no chance to protect ourselves. We only heard the sound of all those slabs falling. I was just trying to get her out of the car. I was afraid the car was going to explode. At first I thought she was alive, but she was killed instantly," Del Valle said.

Although Del Valle lost the love of his life, he said he's not interested in casting blame.

"You don't know when accidents are going to happen, but sometimes there are things that can be avoided. Maybe if, as they say, they had done a better job of inspecting. I only thank God that although I have lost my wife, I thank God that at least it didn't happen earlier in the day when it would have been a bigger tragedy. I lost my wife, but maybe that will now serve a bigger purpose, that when they finish a job like this that they will do it right, right from the start," Del Valle said.

Arrangements for the memorial service have not been finalized. Milena Del Valle will be buried in her native Costa Rica. Her daughter in Costa Rica is still coming to grips with her death. Raquel Ibarra Mora told the Boston Herald "I don't blame anyone, but I do know that state authorities need to do something if there was negligence." She added that, "No one from Boston has spoken to me ... someone has to respond to our questions. I would like to know why this happened."