Tragedy on a Rural Road: Influencer’s Two Children Killed, Husband in ICU After Crash
- Sep 18
- 3 min read
18 September 2025
Influencer and Disney-content creator Keeley Whitcomb shared devastating news on September 16 that two of her children died in a car crash one day earlier and that her husband, Blake Whitcomb, is now in the ICU. The collision happened on September 15 in rural Adams County near Hastings, Nebraska.
Keeley, who also works as a travel agent with Dreams Travel Consulting, made the announcement on TikTok, saying: “Yesterday was the worst day of my life. An accident has taken my two children from me and put my husband in the intensive care unit.” She paused her work, posting “Consider me out of the Disney office.”
The crash involved Blake driving a pickup truck that collided with a farm silage truck operated by a 66-year-old man named Dale Feik. The intersection was uncontrolled. Both Blake and Feik were taken to Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital. Tragically Keeley’s 10-year-old daughter, Laynee Rae, and 7-year-old stepson, Ryder, were pronounced dead at the scene. Bereft and grieving, Keeley later posted personal tributes to both children.
In tributes posted on social media, Keeley honored Laynee Rae as her “Disney princess” and shared the sorrow that “10 years was not long enough for me.” She also remembered Ryder, saying that while she had not known him all his life, she fell in love with him from the moment they met, and reflected on the depth of love that strengthens even when a relationship has only lasted a few years.
Ryder’s grandmother, Cheryl Gardner, also posted on Facebook, expressing gratitude for the time they had with him and-describing him as a blessing, even if only for a short while. She closed with words of faith about bigger plans in a heart-breaking message: “Yesterday, Heaven got a new angel.”
Authorities say alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash. The rural intersection where the collision occurred lacked stop signs or lights. Investigators are exploring how the accident unfolded including visibility, speed, road conditions and whether both drivers had proper time to react.
The loss has hit Keeley’s community of followers and friends hard. Many of her fans, who have followed her travel and Disney-themed content, expressed shock, sorrow and support. Comments poured in offering prayers, condolences, and sharing memories they had of her children as seen in her posts. the emotion of her grief is clear in every tribute.
While the pain is new, Keeley has publicly acknowledged that the emotional and logistical aftermath will take time. She has not yet confirmed any long-term plans beyond stepping away from public work for now. Friends and supporters are watching, offering help where possible, from fundraising to moral support.
This tragedy underscores how quickly ordinary moments on rural roads can end in heartbreak. Uncontrolled intersections often pose serious risks. Families driving on familiar roads may encounter unexpected hazards just because signals, signs, or lights are missing. It also reminds us how social media influencers live lives that are public and how when tragedy strikes, that public audience becomes part of the grief and the support network.
Keeley’s tribute posts show a mix of devastation, love, faith, and attempt at finding words in a moment too large for many words. Laynee Rae and Ryder will be remembered for their personalities, their presence in friends’ and family’s lives, and in the moments Keeley chose to share. Behind the posts are two children gone too soon, a mother’s heartbreak, and a community’s broken heart.
As the community mourns, questions remain: What details will emerge from the investigation? Will road safety in rural areas be addressed? How will Keeley and her husband Blake begin to heal? These are questions without easy answers but in this shared sorrow there is also compassion, unity, and remembrance.
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