Sheriff: Girls ages 14, 7, killed in crash involving SUV, semi on US Highway 12 in Whitewater

WHITEWATER -- A 14-year-old girl was killed in a crash involving a Ford Excursion and a semi hauling an empty tanker trailer on US Highway 12 at Walworth Avenue in Whitewater Thursday evening, Aug. 1.

It happened around 7:30 p.m.

Officials with the Walworth County Sheriff's Office said the Ford Excursion was found with extensive damage at the scene, along with a camper that was being pulled by the SUV.

A preliminary investigation revealed the Peterbilt semi hauling an empty tanker trailer was headed southbound on US Highway 12, approaching the intersection with Walworth Avenue.

The Ford Excursion pulling the camper trailer was northbound on US Highway 12 and made a left turn into the path of the semi.

The semi struck the Ford Excursion in the rear passenger side.

The driver of the semi, an Elkhorn man, 56, was not hurt.

There were five people in the Ford Excursion, including the 14-year-old girl who was killed. Sheriff's officials identified her as Kaylinn Wilken. The driver was a Waterford woman, 44 -- the 14-year-old girl's mother. The front passenger was a man, 42, from Boise, Idaho. He was taken to the hospital. His twin 7-year-old daughters were in the rear of the vehicle. One was killed. Sheriff's officials identified her as Olly Koelsch. The other twin was taken to the hospital.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.