News : Donors give more than $40K to family following tragic accident that claimed two lives

Efforts to help a Belle Plaine-area family devastated by a car accident last week have exceeded expectations. On-line donors have contributed more than $40,000 to the family of Jennifer Van Nevel Perez. Perez was in her subcompact Chevy Aveo car with her four daughters on Thursday, when their vehicle was hit from behind by a pickup while they waited for the truck in front of them to turn left. Two of Perez's daughters,Selena Apodaca, 16, Isabella Severson, 13, died in the crash. She and her other daughters were hospitalized with serious injuries. One teen daughter remains in critical condition; Perez and her youngest daughter are expected to be released from the hospital soon. More than 900 people have already donated via the Go Fund Me page set up byAmanda Lorimer Loesche, a close friend of Perez. See that page, which friends are continuing to update,HERE.