Culver's fundraiser supports Waukesha crash victim's family
WAUKESHA, Wis. - A Waukesha fundraiser on Saturday remembered Megan Voss, the 17-year-old girl who was killed in a drunk-driving crash.
Culver's fundraiser
The community packed the Culver's on Sunset Drive, a few miles west of where the crash happened, and cars wrapped around the building and down the street.
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"It's amazing, the community that we have in Waukesha is just everybody rallies around when somebody needs help," said Fred Kohls, the restaurant's owner. "When something terrible like this happens, it's such a terrible situation, but the community shows up, and they show their support."
Kohls said he reached out to Voss' family and decided to donate 50% of Saturday's proceeds to them. The goal was to raise $20,000.
Fundraiser for Megan Voss at Culver's on Sunset Drive, Waukesha
Ava Bellovary said the turnout means a lot. She met Voss in orchestra class, and the two became friends. Voss would frequent the Culver's with friends.
"She was kind, she loved everyone. I couldn't tell you one time I ever saw her mad," she said. "We all have left flowers for her, and we're going to continue to do that no matter what anybody says."
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Bellovary was thankful for the community's support and had a message for safety.
"Please don't drink and drive. It's very bad," she said. "It's a terrible thing, and it could have been anybody's daughter, and it happened to one of the best people."
Voss funeral is scheduled for Saturday, Jan.11. A GoFundMe has been set up for Voss as well.
Drunk-driving crash, charges
Prosecutors charged 19-year-old Jason Zehe of West Allis with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, among other crimes, in connection to the crash that killed Voss.
The multi-vehicle crash happened at Sunset and Guthrie on Dec. 30. A preliminary investigation determined a vehicle was speeding on Sunset Drive, ran a stop sign and hit two other vehicles.
Waukesha crash: Teenage girl killed, man accused of driving drunk
A man is accused of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, among other crimes, in connection to a Waukesha crash that killed a girl on Monday, Dec. 30.
At the crash scene, a Waukesha police officer spotted a car, an SUV and a pickup truck. A criminal complaint noted the car was "up on the curb…resting against a stop sign" and appeared to be totaled. The front end of the pickup truck was crushed against the back of the SUV.
Flight for Life responded and flew one victim, later identified as Voss, to a hospital. She died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The other people involved in the crash had non-life-threatening injuries.
Editor's update
Fred Kohls, the owner of the Waukesha Culver's, said the restaurant raised $22,000 on Saturday, Jan. 4 for the Voss family. $2,500 of that amount came from donation canisters near the registers – with Kohls rounding up the remaining.
"Just goes to show how the community comes out to support each other when something happens in it," Kohls told FOX6 News.