A Waterloo, Iowa, family and their community are mourning three siblings who died after a vehicle crash in Kenya.
Emmanuel DeLeon, 13, and Kairu Winkelpleck, 6, were killed earlier this month in what was described as a “devastating road accident” in Soysambu, Gilgil, along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, according to NBC affiliate KWWL and Kenyan media outlets The Star, Tuko and Citizen Digital.
Their sister, Njeri DeLeon, 16, later died after receiving treatment in an intensive care unit, according to an update shared on a GoFundMe created to support the family.
“On January 4th, while on a dream family trip to Kenya, Leah’s family was involved in a devastating road accident,” the fundraiser description said. “We are heartbroken to share that Emmanuel, an 8th grader at Hoover Middle School, Waterloo, Iowa and his younger brother Kairu passed away at the scene.”
At the time, the fundraiser added: “While their parents are physically safe, they are now facing a parent’s worst nightmare in a foreign country.”
On Jan. 16, an update posted to the fundraiser confirmed Njeri’s death: “It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Njeri today. We will keep you informed regarding the funeral. Thank you.”
The siblings were from Waterloo, Iowa, according to the reports. Hoover Middle School, where Emmanuel attended, acknowledged the tragedy in a social media post on Jan. 8 and later held a balloon release in his memory on Jan. 13.
A memorial service for Emmanuel, Njeri and Kairu was later held at the International Christian Centre in Nairobi on Friday, Jan. 23, Tuko reported.
At the service, the children’s mother, Wangui Ndirangu, spoke about the grief of losing all three in a single day.
“No words can truly describe this moment,” Ndirangu said, Tuko reported. “This is only to express where our hearts are. If I had known I would lose all of you in one day, I would have turned back the hands of time and done a million things differently. I would have laughed with you more, listened more, and spent even more time with you. I would have been more careful, more attentive, pushed you more, and said ‘I love you’ more often.”
The Kenya Police Service and the GoFundMe organizer did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday, Jan. 26.
