In a heartbreaking moment, a father holds his newborn child who was the only survivor after his pregnant wife was killed in a hit-and-run incident involving a fleeing thief. Samantha Russell, who was 33 weeks pregnant at the time, succumbed to her injuries. However, doctors were able to deliver her son (Mac) safely.
After the tragedy, Samantha’s husband, 21-year-old Brandon Russell, posted a heart-wrenching message on Facebook while holding his newborn son, Mac. He expressed that words could not convey the emotions he and others were experiencing following the events that took place on July 6, 2021, around 5:30 CST.
Although Sammy was taken from them, she left behind the most valuable gift of all, life. Brandon went on to say that Samantha would have made a wonderful mother, as she always had everything planned out and ready to go. He described her as the most determined and hardworking person he had ever encountered.
Brandon expressed that Samantha always knew how to provide guidance and support whenever he needed it. He considered her the most amazing person he had ever met, from her bubbly personality and energetic nature to her knack for knowing when it was “couch-thirty” and time to unwind with Netflix. She was a genuinely kind-hearted woman who did not deserve to lose her life at the hands of a reckless driver.
In his emotional post, Brandon Russell expressed that his wife, Samantha, was the epitome of happiness. She radiated joy to everyone she met, and she will always be his wife and the person he turns to for advice or to ask one of his silly questions. He professed his love for her, saying she was everything to him.
He implored everyone reading his post to take a moment to appreciate and cherish the special people in their lives while they are still with us. No one can replace them because they hold so much meaning. He urged people to live each day to the fullest because no one knows what to expect each day.
Based on their Facebook profiles, Samantha and Brandon tied the knot in 2019. In January, Samantha shared a photo of them holding ultrasound pictures to announce her pregnancy, and in March, they revealed that they were expecting a baby boy. Samantha was an Etsy seller of her crafts and also worked for a real estate company, where her death was acknowledged by the owner in a blog post.
The Wichita Police Department officers were present at the scene to capture robbery suspects.
However, one suspect fled north in a 2003 Dodge Ram truck. Captain Paul Duff informed KSN that the officers turned back to pursue the suspect, but they soon abandoned the chase. They returned to assist the other officer who had arrested the first robbery suspect. In the meantime, the suspect, identified as Javan Ervan, 37 years old, continued driving at high speed, ran a red light, and caused a multi-car accident.
Samantha, who was stopped at an intersection in her Mazda CX3, was hit by the suspect’s vehicle, resulting in her death. A Nevada man driving a Chevy Silverado and a 73-year-old Wichita lady were also injured in the accident, and the woman was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. A GoFundMe campaign set up to assist the Russell family surpassed its $5,000 goal.
After the incident, Ervan was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and criminal possession of a firearm. Ervan had a history of robbery convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. Additionally, Jaime Chavez, a 34-year-old resident of Wichita, was arrested and charged with robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. He had been released on parole in March after being convicted of aggravated solicitation of a child under the age of 14.
The tragedy is indescribable. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family. I hope they find the solace and support they need to navigate through this difficult time.