17-year-old from Shorewood died after crash near Cottage Grove; 4 others hurt
COTTAGE GROVE -- A 17-year-old girl from Shorewood died in a crash involving three vehicles on I-94 eastbound near Cottage Grove Sunday morning, March 31. Four others were hurt -- one suffering life-threatening injuries.
It happened just after 11 a.m.
Officials with the Wisconsin State Patrol said a preliminary investigation revealed a Ford Focus and Honda Pilot headed westbound lost control. The Honda Pilot went through the median and crashed into a Toyota Highlander, headed eastbound.
The 17-year-old girl who died at the hospital was a passenger in the Highlander. A second 17-year-old girl from Shorewood, who was a passenger, suffered life-threatening injuries. A third passenger, a 23-year-old woman from Manitowoc, and the driver, a 23-year-old man from Shorewood, suffered injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
A 23-year-old Hartland man was driving the Ford Focus and wasn't hurt.
A 42-year-old Madison man was driving the Honda Pilot and suffered injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
The three drivers and two passengers were all taken to hospitals.
Two lanes were blocked for more than three hours during the investigation.
Bryan Davis, Superintendent of Shorewood School District issued the following statement on this case on Monday, April 1
Dear Parents/Guardians,
It is with great sadness that we inform you about a recent loss to our school community. On Sunday, March 31, at approximately 11:00 am, Megan Frieseke and Emily Frieseke, 11th grade students at Shorewood High School, were involved in a multi-car accident near Cottage Grove, WI. Unfortunately, Megan did not survive the accident. Her sister, Emily, remains at UW-Madison Hospital under the care of physicians. We have reached out to the family to express our condolences and have offered our support.
To assist Shorewood High School students and staff with this tragedy, increased support from school counselors and school psychologists will be available at the high school throughout the week. If you have a student who does not attend the high school, but needs assistance, please contact the main office at your student’s school. A student support services staff member will reach out to you. Here is a link to information that may be useful to you in helping your student cope with this tragedy.
We are deeply saddened by this loss to our school community and are making every effort to provide support to our students and families. Please join us in keeping the Frieseke family in your thoughts during this difficult time.