Brooklynn Newville was a nine-year-old girl full of dreams and aspirations. She had written down her bucket list, filled with exciting experiences she wanted to have, places she wanted to see, and adventures she wanted to embark on. Unfortunately, Brooklynn, along with her five-year-old brother Jace, never had the chance to fulfill any of those wishes. Tragically, both children lost their lives in a horrific car crash just days before Easter. Today, we share with you the heartbreaking story of Brooklynn’s bucket list and the plea her parents are making to prevent further tragedy.
In a fateful accident on the Turner Turnpike in Wellston, Oklahoma, Linda Irie was driving with her three grandchildren. Brooklynn and Jace were excited to pick up a baby lamb for their Easter photoshoot. However, their lives were cut short when their family car was rear-ended by a 17-year-old driver who was distracted by texting. The impact caused a chain reaction, involving two more vehicles. The outcome was devastating – Brooklynn, Jace, and their cousin Isabella, aged six, did not survive the crash, while Isabella was the only survivor.
The loss of their children has shattered the Newville family. Brooklynn and Jace’s father, Brian, expressed the immense pain, saying, “We’ve had to move a couple times, can’t really walk into the house anymore, see where the kids used to be.” Their mother, Shaneé, who wrote a heart-wrenching Facebook post, shared the deep sorrow she feels every day, “Being alive is hard. I wake up and cry, take a shower and cry, put on my make-up and cry.” The void left by their children’s absence is a pain that cannot be put into words.
Months after the tragedy, as the parents were going through their daughter’s belongings, they discovered something that brought both comfort and pain. Tucked away among her things was Brooklynn’s hand-written bucket list. It included various dreams like seeing a moose, scuba diving, getting a drone, visiting an ice bar in Alaska, and even seeing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Brian, still choked up with tears, shared a wish from the list that he regrets not fulfilling, “She always wanted to go hunting with me. Never got a chance to.”
While the Newvilles have not publicly documented the fulfillment of their daughter’s bucket list, they had made a promise to themselves: they would live out Brooklynn’s dreams, no matter how long it takes. The tragic loss of their children has motivated them to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. The man responsible for the accident, Noah DeDear, was charged with three counts of manslaughter. However, the Newville family has been frustrated by the delays in the court process and the lack of closure they desperately seek.
In their quest for justice and to prevent further loss, the Newvilles have started a campaign called “Put it Down.” Their message is simple but powerful – put down the distractions, especially phones, while driving. Brian emphasizes, “It doesn’t matter if it’s your phone, or food, it’s anything in the car, while you’re driving: Put it down.” By sharing their story and raising awareness, the grieving parents hope to spare other families from experiencing the same heartbreak they endure every day.
Brooklynn’s story is a reminder of the preciousness of life and the devastating consequences of distracted driving. Join us in spreading the message of this grieving family. Share their story with your friends and loved ones, urging them to put down their phones while driving. Let us honor the memory of Brooklynn and Jace by making our roads safer for everyone.
