Wisconsin family mourns 8-year-old son killed in icy crash

Heartbreak has enveloped a western Wisconsin family after the tragic loss of their 8-year-old son, Owen Hailey, in a December car crash.

Second eldest of four siblings remembered as 'everyone's best bud'

Owen's parents, Joe and Alisha Hailey, recounted the devastating moment when their vehicle spun out of control on icy roads while driving to an orthodontist appointment for their son.

'I lost control of the car,' Alisha said. 'We spun out one way and as I attempted to correct the car, it spun out the other way and went into oncoming traffic.'

Both parents were rushed to the emergency room, but sadly, Owen succumbed to his injuries. His family remains in shock, struggling to come to terms with the sudden void left by their vibrant young boy.

'He was the life of everything. He squeezed every ounce of joy from every opportunity he could,' Joe and Alisha said in unison, their voices heavy with grief.

As they navigate this unimaginable pain, the Haileys are finding solace in the outpouring of support from their community, including the New Richmond Youth Hockey Association, the Minnesota Wild, and the Chicago Blackhawks.

'It's the only way we get to be sitting here having this conversation, is the support,' Joe acknowledged. 'Or we'd be hiding in a dark hole, hurting.'

While the family wishes they could tell Owen once more how much he's loved, they're determined to honor his memory by living life to the fullest with his three younger siblings - Liam, Jada, and Lincoln.