A tragic accident near Crivitz, Wisconsin, has left two teenagers dead and two others seriously injured. The incident occurred on Saturday night when a single vehicle veered off the road and struck a tree, authorities reported.
Marinette County Dispatch received an iPhone crash notification at approximately 10:55 p.m. on August 29, alerting them to the coordinates on Highway G in the Town of Lake. The dispatch was quickly followed by another call reporting a single-vehicle crash on County Highway G near Loomis Road.
Investigations by the Marinette County Sheriff's Office indicate that Landen J. Englund, a 16-year-old from Menominee, Michigan, was driving south on the county highway when he failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle went into the ditch and struck a tree, resulting in fatal injuries for Englund.
The front-seat passenger, 17-year-old Princeton J. Welty from Crivitz, also sustained fatal injuries. Two other passengers, one of whom was ejected from the vehicle, were seriously injured and were transported to receive medical treatment.
The sheriff's office stated that speed appeared to be a contributing factor in the crash, and the investigation is ongoing. A Facebook post by the sheriff's office has been met with criticism, particularly regarding the release of the teenagers' names without first notifying their families.
Sheriff Randy Miller addressed the criticism in a response to a comment, explaining that the information was released in response to social media posts that often contain inaccurate information. He added that releases are not made until many notifications have been made.
The Menominee Area Public School District has expressed its condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. A message posted on the district's Facebook page stated that a former student who had recently transferred schools died in the crash, and another former student of the district was seriously injured.
"Our thoughts are with the families, friends, classmates, staff members, and everyone affected by this terrible news," Superintendent Drew Buyarski wrote. "A loss like this can have a profound impact across our school community."
Buyarski also announced that additional mental health professionals and support resources will be available for students when they return to school on Monday. He encouraged families to speak with their children about how they are feeling.
A Hudl account for Princeton Welty indicates that he played basketball in Crivitz. The Crivitz School District, which begins classes on September 8, has not yet issued a statement regarding the tragedy.
The incident has left the community in shock and mourning, as they come to terms with the loss of young lives. The Marinette County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the crash and urge anyone with information to come forward.
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