After death, sad memories of dedicated mom

Georgina "Gina" Braverman is being remembered today as a dedicated mother, wife, daughter and sister.

"Her family was the most important thing in her life," said sister Debra Carlson. "She was a good person. It's a sad thing."

Braverman, 30, died as a result of injuries she suffered in a motor vehicle accident Wednesday morning on the Mississippi River bridge on Crow Wing County Road 3 near Potlatch on the northeast edge of Brainerd.

It is the second time Braverman's family has had to deal with such a tragedy. In 1985 her brother died in a car accident on Riverside Drive, Carlson said.

"It's been tough on my mom," said Carlson. Braverman worked for Good Neighbor Home Health Care and took care of her parents, Maurice and Vicki Bakkila.

Carlson said her sister was someone who, though not having much herself, would give all she had to someone in need.

"She was very loving. ... It's so hard to talk about. She was just so generous," said Carlson.

The accident happened about 7:30 a.m. Braverman and her three children; 12-year-old Nichelle, 9-year-old Victoria and 2-year-old Ronald, were driving into Brainerd in a Jeep Cherokee when, on the bridge crossing the Mississippi River, they were struck head-on by a Toyota sport utility vehicle driven by Michelle Ray, 24.

Braverman and her three children, and Ray and her child, 8-year-old Karlie Ray, were transported by North Ambulance to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Braverman died at the hospital. Nichelle and Victoria Braverman were airlifted with severe injuries to the Children's Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis. Information on their conditions was unavailable today.

Ronald Braverman suffered a broken collarbone and was treated at the Brainerd hospital and released. He was the only one in Braverman's Jeep that was in safety restraints, Crow Wing County Sheriff's Sgt. Neal Gaalswyk said today.

Carlson said Nichelle and Victoria Braverman's father, uncle and aunt are at the children's hospital. Funeral arrangements for Gina Braverman are being putting on hold for now while her daughters are hospitalized, Carlson said.

Michelle and Karlie Ray were treated at St. Joseph's Medical Center and released. Michelle Ray was wearing her seat belt at the time of the accident. Karlie Ray was in a child safety seat.

Two other vehicles were involved in the accident, a Pontiac four-door vehicle and a cement block-hauling truck, but neither driver was transported to the hospital.

Gaalswyk Wednesday said extremely icy conditions on the bridge probably led to the accident, news that upset Carlson.

"The roads were icy, why were they not sanded?" said Carlson. "Why wait until everyone's on them?"