Loke, 11, Honors His Parents One Year After Tragic Accident
A year ago, 11-year-old Loke lost both his parents in a severe accident on the E18. Now, he returns to the vintage car meet in Västerås, where the family was headed.
"It feels good to honor them," says Loke.
In June 2024, Loke sat in the family's green and white 1955 Buick Super with his father Tomas, mother Linda, and their dachshund Rocky. Their destination was one of the year's highlights: the Summer Meet vintage car show in Västerås. But they never arrived.
On the E18, just outside Hallstahammar, they collided head-on with a drunk van driver who made a reckless overtaking maneuver.
Father Tomas died on the spot, mother Linda passed away in the hospital a few months later, and Rocky had to be put down due to his injuries. Loke, then ten years old, was the only family member to survive. He was hospitalized with several fractures, including a broken femur.
A year later, Loke is back at the vintage car meet.
"This is where we were going, so it feels good to honor them," he says.
Moved in with His Aunt
After leaving the hospital, Loke moved in with his aunt Anna Karlberg in Karlskoga, who now has custody of him. He has become a natural part of the family, and his cousins are like siblings.
For Anna, returning to the Summer Meet was also a given.
"We've been coming here for many years, and we'll continue to do so. I believe Tomas and Linda would have wanted us to keep doing what we enjoy, and that's cars," she says.
In a sea of classic cars, Loke stands next to his aunt's orange and white Buick. He was only a few months old the first time his parents brought him to Västerås, and except for last year, he has attended every year.
Back on the Motocross Within a Year
At home, he has a wall full of collector's plaques, now complete after acquiring the 2024 edition.
"It's a picture of the car voted the most beautiful at the show," says Loke, proudly displaying the plaque.
Despite the accident, his interest in engines hasn't waned. Within a year, he was back on his motocross and riding again.
"It took a while, but now I'm faster than ever," he says.
Honking at the Accident Site: "A Way for Us to Remember"
The loss is still profound, and some days are tougher than others.
"At times, it feels terrible, to be honest. It could have been anyone, but it was them. They were amazing people," says Anna.
Loke remembers his parents as kind, happy, and playful. He wears a bracelet on his arm with the words: "Mom. Dad. Missed." The accident site has also become an important memorial.
"Every time we drive by, we honk. You have to honk, no matter what car you're in," says Loke.
"It's a way for us to remember Tomas and Linda," says Anna.