A husband and wife killed in a horror motorway crash left behind two young children after their pickup truck plunged from a bridge.
Shane Willis, 34, and wife Melynda Willis, 38, both died following the devastating smash.
Their two children – a one-year-old girl and three-year-old boy – miraculously survived with minor injuries after being rescued from the wreckage.
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According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Shane had been driving a 2018 Dodge Ram eastbound on Interstate 90 near mile marker 331 when the vehicle veered into the south ditch and struck a guard cable near a bridge over Rowley Street in Mitchell, South Dakota, US.
The pickup truck then plunged onto the road below before smashing into a retaining wall and coming to rest on its side, as reported by Need To Know.
Authorities confirmed all four occupants had been wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate what happened during the incident on 29 April.
The tragedy sparked an outpouring of grief from family, friends and the wider community, with fundraisers launched to support the couple’s surviving children and thank the emergency crews who saved them.
A GoFundMe page created for the children described Shane and Melynda as devoted parents who had “always surrounded their kids with love and extended family”.
The fundraiser added: “Their commitment to creating a nurturing environment for their children was evident in everything they did.
“They were the most amazing parents.”
Relatives said the family had only recently relocated to Pierre after Shane’s job with Les Schwab Tire Center brought them to the area.
Despite being new to the community, loved ones said the couple quickly became known for their kindness and generosity.
The fundraiser stated: “Shane and Melynda were also supportive members of their community, always ready to lend a hand or offer guidance.
“They saw every opportunity to be positive mentors and were known for their kindness and willingness to help others.”
A separate fundraiser organised by family member Tabbatha Willis praised first responders and members of the public who rushed to help at the crash scene.
She said the children had been rescued from the burning vehicle by emergency crews and Good Samaritans.
Tabbatha wrote: “The family is extremely grateful for the care and compassion of the first responders, the good samaritans first on scene that we have met, and their heroic efforts in saving the babies of Shane and Melynda Willis.
“I am told the fire department arrived in four minutes.
“The babies arrived at the hospital within 10 minutes of the accident.”
She also revealed that two nurses stayed with the children for more than 20 hours until relatives arrived from out of state.
Tributes have continued pouring in for the couple, whose obituaries painted a picture of two parents devoted to family life and adventure.
Melynda, originally from Bethesda, was remembered as someone whose “laughter was contagious” and whose “kindness genuine”.
Her loved ones said she had a gift for making people feel “seen, valued and loved”.
After travelling around the US as a child due to her parents’ military careers, she later attended the University of Idaho and built a successful career in graphic design and project management.
Family members said she worked on major event design projects and brought “beauty and meaning to every detail”.
Outside work, Melynda loved hiking, camping, rafting, swimming and travelling, while also volunteering and taking part in charity bike rides supporting children with cancer.
Shane, who was born in Moscow, was remembered for his love of the outdoors, including hunting, fishing, camping and four-wheeling.
Relatives said he and his younger brother Koby spent much of their childhood outdoors “playing and getting into mischief”.
After graduating from Moscow High School in 2010, Shane began working for Les Schwab Tire Center during his senior year – the beginning of a career that later took him across Idaho and Washington before he became manager of a new store in Pierre in 2025.
His obituary described him as a man with a “generous spirit” who freely gave his time and talents to help others.
The couple met in 2019, became engaged just months later and married in September 2021 surrounded by family and friends.
Loved ones said they “lived life to the fullest” together and embraced every opportunity for adventure with their children.
A joint memorial service for Shane and Melynda was held in Moscow on 16 May.
The couple were laid to rest together at Moscow Cemetery.
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