Woman mourns loss of 8-year-old son, husband and mother in crash with semitruck

A woman lost her 8-year-old son, husband and mother all to the same crash involving a semitruck Monday afternoon. (Source: WSAZ)
Published: Jan. 31, 2024 at 12:42 PM EST

ROSS COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ/Gray News) – A woman lost her 8-year-old son, husband and mother all to the same crash involving a semitruck Monday afternoon.

“Time is still. It’s unbearable, and it’s not moving, but I’m trying,” Jernelle Larson said. “He will never walk his daughters down the aisle. My son will never go to prom. My son won’t graduate. My mother won’t live out the life she deserves, and it all happened instantly.”

Larson confirmed to WSAZ her son Dylan, her husband Donavan Larson, and her mother, Deanna Early, all died in the crash.

Troopers said the wreck happened on Monday around 4:30 p.m. near milepost 34 along US-35.(Jernelle Larson)

Troopers said Early was driving an SUV on U.S. 35 and was trying to make a left turn when she was hit by a semitruck and forced off the right side of the road before hitting a guardrail and a tree.

Larson said Dylan loved to play sports and the fields were his home away from home.

“To know him was to love him,” said Dionte Coleman, one of Dylan’s coaches. “He was in our life for such a short amount of time and changed everybody’s life in that amount of time. It’s just mesmerizing.”

Staff at Culloden Elementary School echoed Dylan’s coaches and said in a statement the 8-year-old was a joyful child with a big personality.

“He was a great friend to many of our students and will be missed terribly,” staff said in a statement.

The driver of the semitruck was not hurt.