Community bands together to help families of Wisconsin crash victims

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (KMSP) - The small town of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin remains shaken after the sudden loss of three young Girl Scouts and a parent over the weekend.

The four were killed after they were struck by a pickup truck while picking up trash along the road.
Charlie Walker, president of the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation, started a GoFundMe for the families.

“They were giving back to the community, they were doing a community service project and had their safety vests on, and had supervisors, it was like ‘wow,’” Walker said. “It’s a tragedy, it’s unexplained. It’s the shock, the disbelief, the anger… all of those feelings.”

Troop #3055 Memorial Fund will help offset funeral and medical expenses for the victims’ families.
Those killed in the crash include 9-year-old Jayna Kelley, 10-year-old Autum Helgeson, 10-year-old Haylee Hickle and her mother,32-year-old Sara Jo Schneider. One girl remains in the hospital.

“We just knew that there was going to be some financial hits, and we said that we needed a vehicle to get that momentum started so we just picked a number 50,000. But you know, when you have three air flights to the Twin Cities and you have doctor’s bills, you know I’m sure there’s going to be a lot more than that needed,” he said. “In this time particularly, it’s a reminder of how we all need to work together and love each other.”

To find the GoFundMe, click here.