Family remembers mother, 2 daughters ‘taken from us too soon’ in car crash

ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) - A Missouri family is in mourning after a car crash involving a tractor-trailer took the lives of a mother and her two young daughters.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 45-year-old Michelle C. Yaeger and her two daughters, ages 8 and 10, were traveling in a GMC Yukon when the crash happened around 7:35 a.m. Friday at the point where traffic from Interstate 55 merges onto northbound Interstate 270 in South County.

Michelle Yaeger and her 8-year-old daughter, Kenzi, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Her 10-year-old daughter, Natalie, was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 8:40 a.m.

Ken Brooks, the girls’ father, describes his daughters as young, loving and full of life, KMOV reports.

“They were just taken from us too soon,” he said. “I’ve already cried a river, along with everybody else in my family and everybody else who knew Michelle and knew the girls.”

The highway patrol says the crash happened when Michelle Yaeger’s Yukon traveled off the left side of the exit ramp and into the rear of a tractor-trailer parked in the area where the two roadways merge. A fire started due to the crash.

“[Michelle] had a smile that could light up the room,” Brooks said. “She passed that down to my babies.”

Natalie had celebrated her 10th birthday just days before the tragic accident.

“She was young and strong and independent and stubborn and sassy and loved everybody,” Brooks said.

He says Kenzi loved school and her friends.

“She had the biggest heart I’ve ever seen,” Brooks said. “She loved animals. She loved most people.”

Brendan Yaeger, Michelle’s son, is still trying to process the loss of his mother and two younger sisters.

“I loved my little sisters,” he said. “They loved me. It was just always full of love, and I just loved being around them.”

He describes his mom as a hard worker who put her kids first over everything.

“I still tried to call her today,” Brendan Yaeger said. “I don’t know. No pick up, and then, it just hit me. It’s just rough. It’s really rough. Can’t really put it into words how I’m feeling right now.”

Brooks said his daughters were supposed to be with the babysitter, but they never arrived. That’s when he got a call from Brendan Yaeger, who said he hadn’t heard from his mom or sisters.

“I drove straight to the crash site,” Brooks said. “From the time I hung up the phone with him, I knew. I hoped and I prayed. I asked God.”

Dozens of people gathered in Lemay Park on Saturday evening to release balloons in honor of Michelle Yaeger, Natalie and Kenzi.

The family also has a message they want to share with the community, saying the people who tried to help after the crash show humanity is still alive.

“To thank the men and women who tried to save my babies,” Brooks said. “The people who risked their own lives to save my babies’ lives, I’ll never forget you.”

Mercy confirmed Friday that Michelle Yaeger was an employee of Mercy South.

“Mercy is saddened to learn of the passing of one of our Mercy South co-workers, Michelle Yaeger, along with her daughters,” the statement read. “Our condolences and prayers go out to Michelle’s family and friends as well as our co-workers who have been touched by her in her time with us. We are bringing in additional counseling resources through both our spiritual care department and employee assistance program to assist our co-workers as they grieve this loss.”

Troopers say the tractor-trailer involved in the crash was hauling lumber, and its driver stopped to check the load. The driver was not injured, according to reports.

An early report by the highway patrol said the 10-year-old victim was male but has since been corrected.

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