What started as an ordinary Wednesday afternoon drive in rural Fond du Lac County ended in a violent rollover that killed an 11-year-old girl from North Fond du Lac and sent three others to the hospital. Investigators say a northbound minivan on County Highway V near Lime Road in the Town of Eden left the roadway shortly after 3 p.m., crossed the centerline and overturned several times before coming to rest in the west ditch after going airborne. Local officials have not released the names of those involved, and the crash remains under investigation.
Officials' account
According to FOX6 News Milwaukee, the minivan carried four people: a 29-year-old driver from Fond du Lac, a 15-year-old girl from Campbellsport, an 8-year-old boy from Fond du Lac and the 11-year-old girl from North Fond du Lac. FOX6 reports that the driver was treated for minor injuries and the 8-year-old and 15-year-old passengers were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries. The 11-year-old was flown by ThedaStar to Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office provided the information to FOX6 and said the crash remains under investigation.
Scene and road closure
CBS 58 reported that County Highway V was shut down between County Highway K and County Highway B for about five hours while emergency crews and crash investigators worked the scene. A preliminary investigation described the minivan crossing the centerline, entering the west ditch, striking an embankment and overturning several times before stopping in the ditch, CBS 58 said. Multiple agencies responded, including county deputies and medical crews who transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
Child passenger safety
Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the leading causes of injury death for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2023 more than 1,000 child passengers ages 14 and under were killed in crashes nationwide. The CDC stresses that correct use of car seats, booster seats and seat belts is the most effective way to reduce severe injuries for children, and it notes higher risks on rural roads where single-vehicle run-offs can be especially dangerous. Those national findings help explain why single-vehicle rollover crashes on county roads so often have tragic outcomes for young passengers.
Investigators ask for tips
Authorities say the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation and has asked anyone with information about the crash to contact the department. The sheriff’s office lists non-emergency phone numbers and a tip line on its website, Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, and officials said they will not release the names of those involved at this time. No criminal charges have been announced.
