A Kansas mother has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her son, 21, who was killed in a horror crash, as his brother, 16, escaped with 'broken fingers and bruised lungs' as a monster storm descends on the United States.
Ericka Lysell said she would have 'never dreamed of having to make a post like this,' just days before Christmas after her eldest, Grant Lysell-Alkire, died in the passenger's seat of a car that flipped south of Salina.
'Never did I dream I would ever have to make a post like this,' Ericka wrote on the post to Facebook.
'Our sweet Grant Lysell-Alkire died last night in a car accident, the roads were extremely icy.'
Ericka Lysell (left) posted a heartbreaking tribute to her son Grant Lysell-Alkire (right) after he died in the passenger's seat of a car that flipped south of Salina
21-year-old Grant (right) was in the rollover crash with his 16-year-old brother, Sawyer Lysell-Alkire (left), who had been driving the car at the time of the devastating incident
The 21-year-old was in the rollover crash with his 16-year-old brother, Sawyer Lysell-Alkire, who had been driving the car at the time of the devastating incident.
'Sawyer so far is ok, some broken fingers and very bruised lungs they are monitoring,' wrote Ericka.
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Share'We are just sick, and our hearts hurt so much, none of our lives will ever be the same. Please pray for our family and especially for Sawyer.'
Late Thursday, Ericka wrote another post updating family and friends on her 16-year-old's condition.
'Sawyer's last chest x ray looked good, and he was doing well on room oxygen and with PT and OT. We are headed home. We feel the love from everyone,' she said.
Tributes from relatives and friends of the family flowed on the mourning mother's post with many praying for Sawyer's speedy recovery.
One person said: 'Thank goodness for that! Please give Sawdog our love and a big hug. I wish I could be there for you, but please know I am praying so hard for all of you. Love you so much.'
Another said: 'You haven't been a moment from our thoughts today. I'm amazed you can reach out to assure us. You are so loved.'
Tributes from relatives and friends of the family flowed on the mourning mother's post for Grant (left) with many praying for Sawyer's (right) speedy recover
Grant (pictured) died at the scene while his 16-year-old brother who had been driving the vehicle was taken to hospital with minor injuries
The accident happened at around 9.15 pm on Interstate 135 just north of Old Highway 81 in southern Saline County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Mazda SUV had been heading south when it went into a ditch and overturned and landed on its roof.
Grant died at the scene while his 16-year-old brother who had been driving the vehicle was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The patrol's online crash log stated that both occupants had been wearing seat belts during the tragic incident.
At least four others died in separate motor vehicle accidents in Oklahoma, as the monster winter storm started to coat roads with snow and ice.
Lieutenant, Candice Breshears, of the Kansas Highway Patrol, said Thursday that three people were killed in multiple crashes overnight, including Grant.
Jeremy Alkire (right), the boy's father, pictured with Ericka Lysell (bottom right), the boy's mother, along with Grant (center left) and Sawyer (right)
Sawyer and Grant (pictured L to R) appeared to be close in pictures posted by their mother who paid tribute to her son 21 who died
Ericka posted her disbelief in losing her son just days before Christmas
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said it responded to two fatal crashes Thursday in the state, one on the Turner Turnpike near Luther and a three-vehicle crash that occurred in Paden in central Oklahoma.
As close to 9,000 flights are delayed and canceled people desperate to get home for the holidays have chosen to brave the brutal winter conditions and drive home for Christmas.
Alice Adkins Aldredge was in Chicago for the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic along with her husband, Tripp, and son, Greyson.
Their flight out of Midway was canceled Thursday morning due to the weather.
Alice told CNN they have family visiting for the holidays, so it was important they got back to their home in Charleston, South Carolina.
'We decided to risk it on the road,' she said.
They booked a rental car and began driving around 10.30 am. The plan is to drive 12 hours to Charlotte, North Carolina to drop off their friend, who caught a ride with them.
They will then drive another three hours to Charleston for a total of 15 hours on the road.
As close to 9,000 flights are delayed and canceled people desperate to get home for the holidays have chosen to brave the brutal winter conditions and drive home for Christmas
Vehicles travel along Interstate 44 as snow begins to fall and temperatures drop in St. Louis, authorities have warned of icy conditions across the United States
'Everything has been great so far,' Alice said, 'We've gotten to see some sights along the way and we get to spend time together.'
Tripp told CNN that many other friends of theirs from the clinic chose to similarly take to the road, as there were no available flights out of Chicago.
Madison Painter and her fiancé, Tyler Logan, were among those in Chicago for the clinic.
Painter told CNN their flight to Atlanta was canceled Thursday morning and rescheduled for 9pm on Christmas Day.
The couple decided, along with their friends, Calvin Scott and Brenda Simechak, to drive back to Atlanta, get their cars from the airport, and then drive another three hours to their home in Troy, Alabama.
'I was super worried we wouldn't get a rental car,' Painter said, 'I wanted to get home to our families.'
Luckily, they did manage to get a rental car and started their drive around 11 am.
'It's been crazy with the wind and snow blowing across the road,' Painter said.
To pass the time, Painter said she's been watching the snow come down and texting with friends and family who are checking in. They're hoping to make it back to Troy around 3am.
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