Executive Summary
- A 15-year-old girl died on Friday following a farming incident in the Town of Clinton, Wisconsin.
- The teenager fell from a horse-drawn cart and was run over by an attached, corn-filled wagon after the horses became startled.
- She was airlifted to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
- The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the incident.
WESTBY, Wis. — A 15-year-old girl has died following a farming incident in the Town of Clinton, Vernon County, after she was run over by a wagon on Friday morning. The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. on private property near Anderson Road.
According to authorities, the teenager was a passenger in a two-wheel, horse-drawn cart driven by an 18-year-old male. The horses reportedly became startled after the driver threw a rock from the cart, causing the girl to fall to the ground. She was subsequently run over by a wagon attached to the cart, which was loaded with corn.
The girl sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, where she died later that afternoon. Sheriff Roy Torgerson, in a joint statement with Vernon County Coroner Betty Nigh, expressed condolences to the family and community.
“Coroner Nigh and I are saddened by this tragic loss of life,” Sheriff Torgerson stated. “Our hearts go out to a grieving family and their community. We also recognize and appreciate all who responded.” Multiple agencies, including Westby Emergency Medical Services, La Farge Area Ambulance, and the Cashton Fire Department, were dispatched to the scene.
The incident remains under investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office.