Esther Jean Fulks, Rose Elaine Reece Obituary, Death – Two women who tragically lost their lives in a vehicle collision in north Minneapolis on Monday have been identified. The crash occurred at approximately 10:20 a.m. when a vehicle heading north on Emerson Avenue North collided with another car traveling east on 26th Avenue North.
The impact sent the eastbound vehicle crashing into a nearby bus shelter, killing both women inside. Authorities identified the victims as 53-year-old Esther Jean Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Elaine Reece, both from Minneapolis. Fulks died at the scene, while Reece succumbed to her injuries later at North Memorial Healthcare Hospital. Both women died from multiple blunt force injuries, according to the medical examiner’s report.
The collision also injured others. A man and a woman in the northbound vehicle sustained life-threatening injuries and were hospitalized. Additionally, a 17-year-old boy waiting at the bus shelter suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Police have arrested the driver of the northbound vehicle, a 38-year-old woman, who was hospitalized before being taken into custody. She is being held at the Hennepin County Jail on probable cause for criminal vehicular homicide but has not yet been officially charged.
Fulks and Reece shared a close friendship, and their loss has deeply affected their community. Fulks, a mother of four, worked for Hennepin County and was described as a beloved figure in her community. Her daughter, D’Nia Fulks, has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, sharing that the loss is a devastating blow to the family.
Reece, known for her involvement in community events and her collaboration with the Cultural Wellness Center at the Midtown Global Market, was remembered as a supportive and hardworking individual. Friends and family members have taken to social media to express their grief and share memories of the two women.
A balloon release in their honor is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. at the site of the crash, located at 26th and Emerson Avenue North. The event serves as a way for the community to come together and remember the lives of Fulks and Reece.
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing as authorities piece together the events leading to this tragedy.