Why We’re Here: Rhett Perryman and Skyler Johnson
By MADD | April 4, 2013 | Filed in: Victim Stories

Rhett Perryman

On May 25, 2002, Elesha Cruey’s husband, Rhett, and seven-year-old son, Skyler made a quick trip to the Ranger’s Ballpark to pick up tickets.  Elesha stayed home preparing dinner for the family.  The stadium wasn’t far, so she expected them back home within a short period of time.

Elesha’s parents were in town visiting from South Dakota.  Her mom was watching the evening news when the story about horrific crash on the freeway came on…she recognized one of the cars that was on fire.  After calling Rhett's cell phone several times with no answer and calling all of the hospitals looking for them with no luck, Elesha and her dad decided to drive to the crash scene.  They were desperate to see if their family members were alright.  When they arrived at the fiery crash site, their worst thoughts came true. They were told by the medical examiner that both Rhett and Skyler had been killed. 

Skyler Johnson

That day, a drunk driver traveling the wrong way on the highway hit 11 cars, killing four people—including Rhett and Skylerand badly injuring several others.  The drunk driver also died in the crash.

The day after Rhett and Skyler died, Elesha found out she was pregnant.  During the first year after the crash, the baby gave her a reason to keep going, and made her feel like she still had a piece of them with her.

Elesha was contacted by a local MADD victim advocate who helped her in many ways, including getting crime victims compensation.  At the time she wasn’t working and with the news of the pregnancy and two other daughters to care for, it was a lifesaver.

On the 10 year anniversary of the crash, Elesha, and her three daughters, Bethany, Kaylee and SaVanna, visited the crash site for the first time.  They placed their handmade crosses on the road in memory of Rhett and Skyler.

For many years after the crash, Elesha had always wanted to be a part of MADD, but didn’t feel ready.  After that day, she felt that it was time to reach out.  “It wasn’t about my story anymore. It was about someone else’s, and I wanted to help people like MADD helped me.” She felt a new passion to reach out to others that had lost a loved one as she had.

Elesha recently completed MADD’s Victim Assistance Training Institute and connected with MADD North Texas to start volunteering as a Victim Advocate and Victim Speaker.  She also started a support group named "In Our Hearts" for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one in her area.  Through her journey, Elesha has learned that no matter how horrific a situation looks at the time, there is always hope and a new day.

Elesha remarried in August of 2011. Her husband had two children, so together they have five. His son was seven years old when they married, the same age Skyler was when he died.  Elesha says, “I feel like God gave me another little boy to enjoy in this life.”

Why We’re Here: Helene Zucker Seeman
By MADD | March 5, 2013 | Filed in: Victim Stories

On June 27, 2010, Fred Seeman and Helene Zucker Seeman were heading home after dinner at a friend’s house—a 10 minute drive.  As they were turning into their driveway, a drunk driver with a BAC nearly three times the legal limit and driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit on a dark two-lane road, crashed into the Seemans’ vehicle.  Helene, who was sitting in the passenger seat where the car struck, was pronounced dead at the scene. Fred was transported in a Medevac helicopter to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

Helene left behind two sons—Ford, and Curtis who were 23 and 17 respectively at the time of the crash.

Helene was an enthusiastic and bright person. She was always smiling and lived life to the fullest.  She was a distinguished art curator in New York, working as the director of the Art Acquisition Program for the Prudential Life Insurance Company. She also worked as an adjunct professor at New York University’s School of Continuing Education.

Helene was active in and loved by those in her community. On September 11th, 2001, Helene was living in Battery Park City and active participated in the relief effort cleaning up her neighborhood. 

Her son Ford shared a story in her eulogy of his experience telling an employee at the local rental car company Helene used occasionally:

“Not knowing who the woman was behind the desk, I introduced myself and told her I was sorry to inform her of my mother’s passing. The reaction of this woman, this woman who to me meant nothing, started crying uncontrollably. This was the effect my mother had. She was a pure soul who had the social graces of any of history's greatest queens. She was a queen, she was my queen, and my light and my love.”

The Brooklyn Museum has established the Helene Zucker Seeman Memorial Exhibition Fund to support a variety of exhibitions by a recognized or emerging woman artist that will be presented at the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art.