Tragedy struck a team of Girl Scouts from Wisconsin when accompanied by a parent, they were engaged in collecting trash that littered the rural highway. The girls were fourth-grade students from Chippewa falls performing a community service. The hit-and-run incident happened in Lake Hallie. Three of the girls were killed and one was seriously injured and taken to the hospital.
Daily Mail UK reports that Girl Scouts from two schools were taking part in the activity. They were in two groups working on either side of the highway when the accident occurred.
The driver of the pickup truck appears to have lost control, hit the girls, and sped away. The 21-year-old has surrendered to the police and now faces homicide charges according to police Sgt. Daniel Sokup.
Details of the Wisconsin hit-and-run tragedy
The police have provided some details about the tragedy in Wisconsin. The pickup truck was a black colored Ford F-150. It lost control and crashed into a roadside ditch. The Girl Scouts were engaged on that side of the highway while other members of the group were at work on the opposite shoulder. The driver, a 21-year-old, left the scene after the accident. However, he has later surrendered and faces charges of homicide.
Sgt. Daniel Sokup added that full details will have to emerge in order to pinpoint any other factors that might have led to this unfortunate accident.
Local media reports mention that there were no blind spots in the area of the crash and Sokup added that it was “not an unsafe area.” However, another local media explained that drivers tend to put speed on that particular stretch of road. The accident has killed young girls who had yet to see the world. When they left for the activities, they never expected to meet such a tragic end.
The tragedy has devastated the community and people are consoling the bereaved families.
BREAKING: Police say 3 Girl Scouts and one adult killed and 4th Girl Scout critically injured in Wisconsin hit-and-run crash. https://t.co/fqFAkNoJ0q
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 4, 2018
Driving under influence of liquor suspected
According to ABC News, the suspected driver is in custody on charges of being intoxicated when he mowed down the Girl Scouts. He is at the Chippewa County Jail in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
The victims studied in two different schools and the adult supervisor, who was accompanying them who also lost her life in the crash, was the mother of one of the students. Local residents can only sympathize with the families by holding a candlelight vigil for the victims and praying for the souls of the departed.