A mother and her two adorable daughters were killed in a horrific car accident that involved a tractor-trailer and caused their truck to burst into flames.
Michelle C. Yaeger, 45, and her two daughters Kenzi and Natalie, ages 8 and 10, were traveling in their GMC Yukon when it crashed Friday morning in Missouri.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a truck carrying lumber had stopped on the inside shoulder of the ramp between Interstate 55 and Interstate 270.
The driver thought there was a problem keeping his load safe, and after stopping, the family car hit the back of the truck.
Yaeger and Kenzi died in the crash, which caught fire, while Natalie was taken by ambulance to a nearby children’s hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Kenzi and Natalie, ages 8 and 10, died after Friday’s horrific car crash.
The driver thought there was a problem keeping his load safe, and after stopping, the family car hit the back of the truck.
Images captured at the scene show the Yukon burned on the side of the road, with the large tractor trailer also in ruins in the middle of the road.
Authorities said the truck driver jumped out to help the three, but his car had already caught fire, managing to rescue only one of the children.
David D. Frazier, 41, of St Mary, Missouri, who was driving the truck was not injured in the crash, according to reports.
Corporal Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said, “He was able to get out and helped remove one juvenile from the vehicle, but was unable to reach the other two to take life-saving measures.”
Yaeger and Kenzi died in the crash, which caught fire, while Natalie was taken by ambulance to a nearby children’s hospital where she was pronounced dead.
‘The loss of young lives is very tragic for everyone. Especially family and friends.’
Authorities had to close the highway for more than an hour, and Thompson added: “That vehicle crossed onto the left shoulder where the truck was stopped.”
“It wasn’t part of the area you’re supposed to enter, but it’s an area we often see people crossing there.”
Michelle had been taking her daughters to her sister’s house to take care of them while she went to work as a dental assistant, according to the St. Louis after shipping.
Ken Brooks, the girls’ father, described his daughters as loving and full of life. KMOV.
Images captured at the scene show the Yukon burned on the side of the road, with the large tractor trailer also in ruins in the middle of the road.
Ken Brooks, the girls’ father, described his daughters as loving and full of life.
He told the outlet: ‘They were just taken from us too soon. I have already cried my eyes out, along with everyone else in my family and everyone who knew Michelle and the girls.
Brooks continued: ‘(Michelle) had a smile that could light up a room and she passed it on to my babies.
‘I drove straight to the scene of the accident, I knew it, I was hopeful and I prayed, I asked God. (Natalie) she was young and strong, independent, sassy and loved everyone.
“(Kenzi) had the biggest heart I’ve ever seen in my life, she loved animals, she loved most people.”
Brendan, Michelle and Ken’s son, also told the outlet: ‘I still tried to call her today. I don’t know. She didn’t answer and then she just hit me.
‘It’s just hard. It’s really hard. I really can’t put into words how I feel right now.
‘I loved my little sisters. They loved me. “He was always full of love and I loved being around them.”
Natalie died just days after her tenth birthday, and Michelle posted on social media just a few days before describing her as “smart, beautiful, intelligent, beautiful and vivacious.”
Michelle’s workplace, Mercy South, said in a statement: ‘Mercy is saddened to learn of the passing of one of our Mercy South co-workers, Michelle Yaeger, along with her daughters.
“Our condolences and prayers go out to Michelle’s family and friends, as well as our co-workers who have been touched by her during her time with us.”
The Hancock School District, which the two girls attended, said, “We are saddened by the loss of our school community.”
