MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – It was an emotional balloon release on Saturday afternoon that honored two mothers who were struck and killed by a driver who investigators say sped through a red light at Emerson and 26th Avenue in Minneapolis.

READ MORE: Woman charged in Minneapolis high-speed crash that killed 2 women, injured 2 others

Fatal crash investigation

What We Know: Ester Fulks and Rose Reece died in the crash that happened on Monday.

Investigators say a driver ran a red light at a high rate of speed and hit the SUV the pair was riding in. Police say the suspect Teniki Steward didn’t have a license at the time of the crash, only a State ID.

Community balloon release

What they’re saying: “My body is physically aching. My heart has been in a knot since I found out,” said D’Nia Fulks, Ester Fulks daughter.”I seen her and Miss Rose leave my house, and I went upstairs, got ready for work, for the whole shift, and at 637 o’clock, I found out my mom was dead.” 

“I do hope they give a lot of time, but I don’t hate her. I don’t hate her. I don’t hate her. I do not hate that woman, but I am mad, but I do not hate that woman,” said Drakarr Lobley, Rose Reece’s son.

Reece’s son, Lobley, is facing the tragedy of losing a second parent, as he tells FOX 9 he lost his father a little while ago. He pulls inspiration from his late mother to keep walking one step at a time.

“I had a strong mama. She raised me like that. She raised me to keep going,” said Lobley.

Lobley and D’Nia won’t ever forget the legacy their moms left behind. 

“Real bosses handled real business, got things done, and loved everybody,” said Fulks.

Criminal charges

What’s next: The alleged driver, Teniki Steward faces two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and two counts of criminal vehicular operation.. 

What you can do

How to help: If you would like to help support the families during this difficult time, click here to help the Fulks family and click here to help the Reece family.

OF NOTE

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Eagan, announced that Jan Malcolm and Brian Thun have joined its board of trustees. Malcolm served as commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health for three governors over the span of more than 20 years; her initial term on the Blue Cross board ran from 2010 to 2014. Thun serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer for Duluth-based women’s apparel retailer Maurices.

ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS

Midnight Oil and the Imagine Group announced they received Clio Entertainment Awards and the Graphic Design USA Awards. Midnight Oil’s Clio awarded campaigns include: Silver – Netflix’s Leo Dueling Tongue Billboard, Silver – Disney’s Inside Out 2 Billboard, Bronze – Warner Bros’ Godzilla x Kong Billboard; Imagine’s winning projects: Belk Back-to-School Campaign, General Mills National Cereal Day Advent Calendar, Dick’s Sporting Goods Retail Displays, General Mills K-Pop Influencer Box, Soskin’s Hot Sos The Buffalo SturdyStand Display. Midnight Oil is a Los Angeles-based subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Imagine Group.

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING

Nelson-Rudie & Associates, a New Hope-based engineering consultant, announced it has named Matt Elhadad as president and board chair. Elhadad previously led Nelson-Rudie’s finance, human resources and ESOP domains.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Ameriprise Financial, Minneapolis, announced that Jason Holt, an Ameriprise financial adviser with a practice in Wayzata, has received the 2025 Five Star Wealth Manager award by Five Star Professional, a third-party research firm. … U.S. Bank, Minneapolis, announced Kristy Carstensen as leader of its Global Treasury Management business. Carstensen also will oversee the bank’s prepaid card organization. … Winter & Associates, a St. Paul-based financial services firm, has welcomed fifth-generation family member Shelby Tietel to the firm as associate wealth adviser. Tietel is the daughter of financial adviser, President and Chief Compliance Officer Nicole Winter Tietel.

HEALTH CARE

Cassia, an Edina-based operator of nursing facilities, announced that President and CEO Bob Dahl plans to retire in January 2026. Dahl recently completed 30 years in leadership combined, first at Elim Care, then at Cassia, following the merger with Augustana Care in 2020.

HONORS

The City of Champlin announced that the Elm Creek Restoration and Dam Rehabilitation project, led by the city, was honored with the Environmental Project of the Year award at the 2024 American Public Works Association Conference.

LAW

Nationwide employment law firm Jackson Lewis announced that Gina K. Janeiro has been inducted as a 2024 Fellow to The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Janeiro is managing principal and litigation manager of the firm’s Minneapolis office and is certified as a Labor and Employment Law specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association.

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

UroMems, a development-stage company working on the first smart automated implant to treat stress urinary incontinence, announced the appointment of Rinda Sama to its board of directors. Sama previously was chief operating officer of Axonics prior to its acquisition by Boston Scientific. UroMems is based in France with U.S. headquarters in Minneapolis.

ORGANIZATIONS

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul, announced its updated board leadership and officers for the 2024-25 calendar year: Bill Keegan, Dem-Con Cos., Board Chair; Jill Bollettieri. Post Consumer Brands, Past Chair; Brooke Lee, Anchor Paper Co., Chair-elect; Angela Heikes, SMSC Gaming Enterprise, continues as treasurer and secretary; board members are: Ashton Boon, Mayo Clinic; Jabari Bush, Jasper Engineering; Brett Edelson, Unitedhealthcare; Valerie Finarty, Medtronic; Ryan Jackson, Schwan’s; Eric Levenhagen, Sun Country Airlines; Julie Pierce, ALLETE, and Shane Zutz, DigiKey.

SERVICES

APi Group Corp., a New Brighton-based parent company whose partners provide safety and equipment services to the construction and energy industries, announced that Chief Financial Officer Kevin Krumm has stepped down from his role to accept another opportunity. David Jackola, current chief financial officer and vice president of transformation at APi International, will assume the interim CFO role.

EMAIL ITEMS to businessnews@pioneerpress.com.

While the holidays can be stressful, there are beautiful ways to help ease that stress and bring families together. An art studio in south Minneapolis focuses on art therapy and brings people together for collaborative art projects that cater to a variety of people. Heart Space owner Maddie Johnson shared her creative ideas with Leah Beno on FOX 9. More information can be found here: https://www.heartspacetherapy.org/