An SUV that spun out ThursÂday on a WisÂconÂsin highÂway near PresÂcott slid into the path of an onÂcomÂing truck, leavÂing two chilÂdren dead and three othÂer peoÂple hosÂpiÂtalÂized, the Pierce County SherÂiff's Office said FriÂday.
Killed were the 11-year-old daughÂter and a 5-year-old niece of the SUV drivÂer, who was idenÂtiÂfied FriÂday as Kari Milberg, 32, of Centuria, Wis.
Milberg reÂmains hosÂpiÂtalÂized in critiÂcal conÂdiÂtion at ReÂgions Hospital in St. Paul.
Her 3-year-old son and a seÂcond 5-year-old niece also reÂmained hosÂpiÂtalÂized, but no inÂforÂmaÂtion was availÂable on their conÂdiÂtions. The chilÂdren's names weren't reÂleased.
The colÂliÂsion ocÂcurÂred about 3:40 p.m. ThursÂday on Hwy. 35 in Oak Grove Township, east of Hastings, the SherÂiff's Office said.
The drivÂer of the truck, Jose MenÂdoÂza, 24, of Rockford, Ill., was not inÂjured, nor were his two pasÂsenÂgers.
The inÂitial inÂvesÂtiÂgaÂtion deÂterÂmined Milberg was headÂed south in a 2005 Saturn Vue SUV when it roÂtated sideÂways across the roadÂway into the northÂbound lane, SherÂiff NanÂcy Hove said. The truck colÂlided with the rear of the SUV near 468th Avenue. Milberg's 11-year-old daughÂter died at the scene, and her 5-year-old niece was deÂclared dead at River Falls Area Hospital.
The SherÂiff's Office is inÂvesÂtiÂgatÂing road conÂdiÂtions to determine if they were a facÂtor. The WisÂconÂsin State Patrol is reÂconÂstructÂing the acÂciÂdent.
Kari Milberg and her famÂiÂly live about an hour north of the acÂciÂdent scene, along Hwy. 35 in Centuria, which is in Polk County.
Milberg is a night-shift nurse and sinÂgle mothÂer, said KarÂen ChrisÂtianÂsen, who lives next to the farmÂhouse that she rents to Milberg. Christiansen, poÂlice and othÂers are watchÂing over the home.
"It's so terriÂble that this hapÂpened," ChrisÂtianÂsen said, chokÂing up. "Her daughÂter was a sweet girl."
Joy Powell • 612-673-7750.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482