A Nebraska roller derby captain was tragically killed in a car crash on Sunday during a severe winter storm that battered the state over the weekend. LaDonna Craig, 39, was driving her Kia west on Highway 34 near Malcom, a town just outside of Lincoln in Lancaster County, when she lost control due to whiteout conditions, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
Her vehicle veered into the eastbound lanes before colliding with a Ford F-150. Craig died at the scene, while the driver and passenger of the Ford were transported to a nearby hospital in Lincoln with non-life-threatening injuries. State troopers, the Malcolm Fire Department, and the Seward County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash around 3:32 p.m.
Beloved Roller Derby Icon
Craig was a cherished member of the roller derby community in Lincoln, where she was part of the No Coast Roller Derby team, as noted in her obituary. Her derby name was 'Stormsteris,' and she was also a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, the international governing body for the women's division of the sport.
Her team posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram on Wednesday, stating: 'The entire No Coast Roller Derby family is devastated by the loss of such an amazing roller derby icon and friend.' According to the post, Craig joined the team in 2011 and quickly grew into a powerhouse player.
Leadership and Community Involvement
She became team captain in 2015 and again in 2017, demonstrating her leadership skills. Beyond her captaincy, Craig was highly active in the broader roller derby community. She officiated games, participated in regional mixers, coached the junior’s team, and skated with other leagues during her travels.
Professionally, Craig worked for two years as a medication aide at Kinship Point, an assisted living facility for seniors, and spent a decade in the medical billing and coding department of TELCOR Inc, a healthcare software company. Her obituary described her as 'an outdoor girl with lots of humor and known for her infectious laugh.'
Support for Craig's Family
A GoFundMe campaign was established by the No Coast Roller Derby team to support Craig's family, with a goal set at $5,555 in honor of her derby number, #5. As of Thursday evening, the fundraiser had surpassed its target, raising over $6,000.
Wider Impact of the Storm
The storm that claimed Craig's life also caused six other crashes on Sunday, including a massive pileup on Interstate 80. According to the Cass County Sheriff's Office, 30 to 40 vehicles were involved in that accident, which began with a three-vehicle collision and escalated over 20 minutes as dozens of vehicles, including semi-trucks, piled up.
Several people were injured in the pileup and taken to hospitals in Lincoln, with one person reported in critical condition. Colonel Bryan Waugh, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, released a statement on Monday acknowledging the difficult conditions: 'The last several days have been difficult for many people across Nebraska, with wildfires continuing in the western part of the state and blizzard conditions in eastern Nebraska.'
He added, 'We’d like to thank everyone who has responded to these situations. Nebraska’s public servants and volunteers have proven time after time that they are ready to answer the call to help.'
