Community shaken by Barron County crash that killed teen, injured 3 others
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The investigation into a fatal rollover crash involving four teenagers in western Wisconsin continued Wednesday.
The Monday night crash touched the community of Cameron, which is less than 10 miles south of Rice Lake.
Authorities say a 16-year-old boy was driving with three teenage girls inside the vehicle when it rolled at around 7 p.m. Monday. Fourteen-year-old Evah Garcia and a 15-year-old girl were airlifted to a hospital in the Twin Cities with serious injuries, and a 14-year-old girl was also hurt. Garcia later died from her injuries.
RELATED: 1 teen dead, 2 others seriously hurt after rollover crash in Barron County, Wis.
The driver suffered minor injuries and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, the Barron County Sheriff’s Department says.
Flowers, a teddy bear and a cross mark a memorial site for Evah Garcia, who was killed in a crash in Cameron, Wis., on Oct. 10, 2022. (KSTP-TV)
Garcia’s mother, Allyssa, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the teens were supposed to be going to a gas station but the driver went elsewhere.
“She was very intelligent, loving and cared very much about all of her friends,” Allyssa Garcia said of her daughter.
“A lot of people loved her, and she was loved by many,” Garcia added.
Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said the crash has taken an emotional toll not only on the community but also on the emergency responders.
“Having four people, besides them being kids, which puts another factor on it, it’s really tough on first responders,” Fitzgerald said.
“This community has been through so much, so many accidents lately,” neighbor Rachel Gilbert said.
Gilbert has children that attend the Rice Lake Area School District, which some of the victims attend. The crash also happened in Gilbert’s front yard.
“It’s going to traumatize the driver, traumatize the girls who do survive, it’s just a horrible situation all the way around, it’s going to affect the lives of so many people,” Gilbert said.
The community has started a fundraising page to help Garcia’s family after the crash.
As of Wednesday, the driver remained in custody at the juvenile detention center.