On March 15, 2026, a winter storm swept through eastern Nebraska, bringing with it whiteout conditions that turned familiar highways into treacherous paths. For LaDonna Craig, a 39-year-old resident of Lincoln, the storm would prove fatal.
She was driving her Kia westbound on Highway 34 near Malcolm in Lancaster County when the vehicle lost control in the blinding snow, crossed into the eastbound lanes, and collided with a Ford F-150. The crash occurred around 3:32 p.m. near mile marker 315 . Responders pronounced her dead at the scene. The driver and passenger of the pickup truck were transported to Bryan East Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
She began participating in No Coast Roller Derby in 2011 and soon rose to prominence. She was respected for her steadfast commitment and the unrelenting energy she brought to every practice and every match. Her comrades began to depend on her leadership as much as her abilities.
But LaDonna’s contribution to the league extended far beyond her own performance. She stepped into roles as an official and a coach, helping to strengthen the organization and guide new generations of skaters. She had a gift for balancing intense training with a warmth that made every practice feel like family and every bout feel like home.
The Nebraska State Patrol responded to more than 40 weather-related incidents that day, performing dozens of motorist assists and investigating multiple crashes as blizzard-like conditions impacted travel across the state. In Cass County, a separate crash on Interstate 80 escalated into a pileup involving 30 to 40 vehicles . But for those who loved LaDonna, the statistics and the scale of the storm matter less than the singular absence of a woman who had filled their lives with passion, laughter, and heart.
In the days since her passing, the roller derby community has come together to honor her memory. Her No Coast teammates have established a fundraiser to support her family during this difficult time, a reflection of the deep love and respect she earned over 15 years of involvement in the sport . Contributions and prayers continue to pour in as skaters past and present share stories of her encouragement, her laughter, and the way she showed up for everyone around her, both on the track and in life.
LaDonna Craig, known to so many as Storm, lived with purpose and an open heart. She was a fierce competitor, a patient coach, a loyal teammate, and a beloved member of the Lincoln community. She loved roller derby, and roller derby loved her back. Though her life was cut tragically short on a snow-covered highway, the light she brought to the rink and to the lives of everyone who knew her will not fade. It continues in every skater she mentored, every teammate she inspired, and every story told in her honor.