WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (WMTV/Gray News) – A 21-year-old woman who was planning to marry this summer died after being involved in a UTV crash last week.
Philip Markunas is the father of Caelan Markunas.
He said the two were on an errand together last Tuesday, and he drove his car while Caelan drove her UTV after getting her license the night before.
“She got sucked into the side of the road and tried to counter correct it from getting from the roll the ditch to the roll and she went into a spin,” Markunas said.
Markunas said he quickly slammed on his brakes and turned around to go back to her.
“I couldn’t find her,” he said.
Markunas called 911 and Caelan was airlifted to the hospital. He said he held his daughter in his arms until help arrived.
“We held hands together all the time,” he said.
Markunas decided to create a physical memory of his daughter while she was in the hospital.
“I had my brother run to Hobby Lobby to go get the casting stuff, and we made two casts of her right hand and one of her left hand,” he said.
Caelan was set to be married this summer.
She was also planning to take engagement photos with her fiancé, Mason, in a dress she had picked out.
“We were all excited about it. I mean, everyone in the entire family,” Markunas said.
Caelan died a few days later in the hospital on Saturday.
Loved ones said they will always remember her positive spirit.
“A great person to be around all the time. It’s going to be hard,” Markunas said.
Caelan’s mother has also passed, and the anniversary of her death was a few days before Caelan died.
The family is currently planning Caelan’s celebration of life.