Girl Scouts, mom identified in fatal hit-and-run crash near Eau Claire, Wis.
LAKE HALLIE, Wis. (KMSP) - The three Girl Scouts who were killed in a hit-and-run crash while picking up trash on the side of County Road 9 near Eau Claire, Wisconsin Saturday morning have been identified as Jayna Kelley, 9, of Lake Hallie, Autumn Helgeson, 10, of Lake Hallie, Haylee Hickle, 10, of Lafayette. Hickle's mother, Sara Jo Schneider, 32, was also killed.
A fourth Girl Scout, a 10-year-old girl, remains hospitalized, but is in stable condition, according to police.
The Girl Scout troop, consisting of seven girls and five adult volunteers, were participating in a highway cleanup project on County Road P. They were all wearing highly-visible safety vests, according to the Lake Hallie Police Department. At the time of the crash, all members of the group were in the ditch on the west side of County Road P just south of the Highway 29 overpass bridge.
At 11:41 a.m., a pickup truck left the road and went into the ditch, striking the five victims. The driver, identified as Colten Treu, 21, of Chippewa Falls, fled the scene, but later turned himself into police. He admitted to "huffing" chemicals before the crash.
"Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes asks that you please keep the Nokomis Service Area volunteers and families in your thoughts and prayers as they grapple with this senseless loss," the organization said in a statement.
The organization says cards may be sent to the Eau Claire Service Center at 4222 Oakwood Hills Pkwy, Eau Claire, WI 54701.
In a statement, the Girl Scouts of America said, "Our hearts are with our Girl Scout sisters in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. No words can ease the pain of a tragedy of this magnitude. Girl Scouts everywhere stand with you during this difficult time."
A GoFundMe has been set up for the families, which you can find here.