A weekend drive in Fond du Lac County turned deadly Saturday night when an SUV filled with teenagers rolled over in the Town of Calumet, killing a 16-year-old passenger and injuring several others. Authorities say impairment appears to be a factor, and the 16-year-old driver from Sheboygan is now sitting in the Fond du Lac County Jail on suspicion of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.
The crash happened around 7:17 p.m. on June 13 along County Highway HH. Investigators say the SUV failed to negotiate a curve, hit a culvert and a utility pole, then rolled off the roadway, leaving a chaotic scene and a community reeling.
What Investigators Say
According to FOX6 Milwaukee, the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s communications center fielded multiple 911 calls about the rollover. Deputies responded along with the Calumet Fire Department, the Calumet County Sheriff’s Office and several local ambulance crews.
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office said its Crash Reconstruction Team was called in to document the scene in detail while first responders worked to treat victims and clear the highway.
Victims and Hospitalizations
WBAY reports that the 16-year-old driver and a 15-year-old passenger were taken by ambulance to St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac.
Another 15-year-old was flown to Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and a third 15-year-old was transported to St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan for evaluation. A 14-year-old passenger was not injured and was released to a parent at the scene.
The 16-year-old female passenger who died was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are withholding her name until family notification is complete.
Charges and Legal Context
Officials say the teenage driver was arrested on suspicion of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and booked into the Fond du Lac County Jail, according to FOX6 Milwaukee.
Under Wisconsin Statutes §940.09, causing a death while operating a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration is a felony. Prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges once investigators complete their work.
Local Pattern
This is not the first time Fond du Lac County has been shaken by an alcohol-related tragedy involving teens. Earlier this year, a woman was charged with providing alcohol to minors after a January crash that killed two teenagers, NBC 26 reported.
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have information or video from the area around the time of Saturday’s crash to contact investigators as they work to piece together exactly what happened on County Highway HH.
