A quiet stretch of road in Novo Selo turned tragic on April 2, when a young family’s journey ended in heartbreak. The Rev. Nenad Mitrić, just 33, and his wife, Nedeljka, 32, were killed after their car collided with a truck along the Brod–Derventa route in Bosnia. What should have been a routine drive became a moment that shattered a family and sent shockwaves through communities across continents.
The couple had been traveling with their three young children at the time of the crash. While the parents did not survive, the children were pulled from the wreckage injured but alive. They were rushed across borders for urgent medical care, eventually receiving treatment in hospitals in Slavonski Brod and Zagreb. Doctors later confirmed that the children were in stable condition, offering a small measure of relief in the midst of overwhelming grief.
Nenad Mitrić was more than a priest. He was known as a steady voice in the Serbian Orthodox Church, a man deeply rooted in faith and service. Though based in the region, his connection stretched far, especially to the Serbian Orthodox community in Nashville, where he was respected and remembered as someone who gave his time freely to others.
His wife, Nedeljka—often called Neda by those close to her—was equally cherished. She played an active role in church cultural life, particularly in folklore groups that kept traditions alive. Friends describe her as warm, kind, and deeply devoted to her family and faith. Together, the couple built a life centered on community, culture, and belief.
News of their deaths spread quickly, leaving many stunned. In Nashville, where the family had strong ties, grief turned into action. The Rev. Bojan Banović, a parish priest at the Serbian Orthodox Church of Saint Petka, stepped forward to organize support for the children left behind. He launched an online fundraiser with a clear goal: secure the future of three young lives suddenly without their parents.
The response was immediate and powerful. Donations poured in from people who knew the family and from strangers moved by their story. Within days, the fundraiser had climbed past $285,000, inching closer to its $325,000 target. The funds are intended to cover everything from medical bills to education and long-term care, ensuring the children are not left to face this loss alone.
Back in their hometown of Liješće, the loss feels deeply personal. The couple’s roots there run deep, and the tragedy has left a lasting mark on neighbors and friends who watched them grow into the people they became. What remains now is a community bound by grief, but also by a shared commitment to carry forward the legacy Nenad and Nedeljka left behind—one of faith, compassion, and quiet strength.
