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One Wright County crash victim 'holding her own'

The extent of Kacie Carlsted's injuries is uncertain; she is in critical condition. Mitchell Bayerl is in serious condition.

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: May 30, 2008 - 9:18 PM

One of the four high school seniors involved in a deadly traffic collision in Wright County will be unable to walk for months, and there is uncertainty about the extent of her head injuries, her family says.

Kacie Carlsted, 18, and the other students from Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School were in a car that was hit Wednesday by a pickup truck at an intersection east of Annandale on Hwy. 55.

Carlsted, of Howard Lake, is at St. Cloud Hospital, and fellow passenger Mitchell Bayerl, 18, of Silver Lake, is at Hennepin County Medical Center. Carlsted is in critical condition, and Bayerl was in serious condition Friday night.

Killed was Madeysen Kleve, 18, of Howard Lake, another passenger. Driver Brie Barfknecht, 17, of Waverly, was treated at Buffalo Hospital and released. The four were returning from a high school track meet in Collegeville, Minn.

The wreck occurred when their car, heading south on County Rd. 6, observed a stop sign and then "rolled in front" of the pickup on Hwy. 55, the State Patrol said.

High school graduation ceremonies scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday will go on as planned. Carlsted is class valedictorian, Bayerl the salutatorian.

On its Caring Bridge web-site, Carlsted's family reports that Kacie had pelvic surgery and had rods placed in her hips.

"The rods have to stay in place for about 2-3 months and then be surgically removed," the journal says. "She will not be able to walk until the rods are removed. She will be able to sit and use a wheelchair."

The online journal added that the family is "still concerned about her head injury -- doctors say we may not know the extent of her injury for a few months." The journal lists a brain injury, broken bones in her face, a lacerated liver, punctured lung and other injuries.

"Kacie is a strong and very healthy woman," the journal says. "She is stable and holding her own. ... Keep her in your prayers."

In Bayerl's Caring Bridge journal, today's entry says he was moved from intensive care and is "still in and out but responsive."

Visitation for Kleve is Monday, 4-8 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Her funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m., with visitation at 1:30 p.m.

Staff writer Heron Marquez contributed to this report. Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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