A Missouri wife and mother of three has died in a horrific car crash while on a family holiday in Nicaragua. Kasey Grelle, 41, the CEO of a St. Louis-based marketing consulting firm, was killed on 23 March when the vehicle she was travelling in lost control on a hill inside a luxury resort complex in Tola, on Nicaragua's southwest coast.
Two of Grelle's young children were with her at the time of the accident. Her 11-year-old son Julian suffered skull and spine fractures and a collapsed lung, and was airlifted to a hospital in St. Louis, where he is recovering in intensive care. Her other children, Kit, 9, and Des, 6, are at home with their father, David Grelle.
More than 20 passengers were injured in the crash, according to local media. Grelle's brother, Andy Joyce, announced her death on Facebook on 1 April, describing the family's devastation. A GoFundMe page set up for the family has raised over $300,000 to cover medical costs, funeral expenses and counselling.
David Grelle, a musician, paid tribute to his late wife on social media, posting wedding photos and writing, 'Don't take a day for granted. Live your life. Love your people.' In another message, he said, 'I wish I could've saved you.'
Family friend Juliana Rodas, who set up the fundraising page, described Grelle as the family's 'rock', noting that she had cared for her husband after he was run over in 2016 and nearly died, all while nine months pregnant. 'Kasey carried her family through that crisis. Now she's gone, and they have to carry on without her,' Rodas said.
