Michigan Siblings, 12 and 13, Die Days Apart After Being Struck While Riding Bikes

A Michigan family is mourning the heartbreaking loss of two siblings who died just days apart after they were struck by an SUV while riding their bicycles.

Karalee Shepard, 13, died on September 10, 2026, five days after the September 5 crash that also claimed the life of her younger brother, 12-year-old Calvin Shepard.

The siblings were riding their bicycles along Grand River Avenue in Leroy Township, Michigan, when they were struck by a Ford Explorer.

Calvin died at the scene on September 5. Karalee was critically injured in the crash and remained hospitalized for five days before her family confirmed her death on September 10.

Both children were reportedly wearing helmets at the time of the collision.

The Ford Explorer was driven by a 64-year-old woman. According to Michigan State Police, alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash. The driver remained at the scene following the collision.

No criminal charges have been announced against the driver, and the investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The deaths have left the Shepard family facing the unimaginable loss of two children in the span of just five days.

The family is planning to hold a joint funeral service for Karalee and Calvin on September 12, bringing loved ones together to remember the siblings and mourn their lives lost far too soon.

Source: people.com