Four siblings killed in head-on crash
A head-on crash in rural Weyauwega at 9:14 p.m. Saturday, Dec.. 16, resulted in the deaths of four siblings.
A westbound pickup truck in the eastbound lane of U.S. Highway 10 collided head-on with an oncoming sports utility vehicle.
The driver of the SUV, Daniel Gonzalez, 25, was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries after he was transported to a hospital for medical treatment.
His siblings – 9-year-old Daniella, 14-year-old Lillian and 23-year-old Fabian – died at the scene.
Daniella and Lillian attended the Weyauwega-Fremont School District.
In a letter to sent to families on Sunday, the W-F School District noted, “We are truly devastated by this news. Counselors will be available at each of our schools this upcoming week to speak with any students who may need some additional help processing this situation.”
The Gonzalezes were originally from Ecuador. Daniel and Fabian were working on a dairy farm in Waushara County, according to a GoFundMe page organized by a cousin.
The Gonzalezes were the stepchildren of Pastor Kurt Schilling, of Emmaus Lutheran Church in Waupaca, and his wife Paulina, according to a GoFundMe page organized by a church member.
Criminal charges
Waupaca County District Attorney Kat Turner has charged the driver of the pickup truck, Scott C. Farmer, 47, Neenah, with four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, a fifth operating while under the influence and operating while revoked causing death.
According to the criminal complaint, an off-duty officer called the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office ay 9:13 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, and reported a pickup truck going the wrong way on U.S. 10.
A minute later, the officer reported that the truck had crashed with a SUV on U.S. 10 east of County Trunk X in rural Weyauwega.
Waupaca County Deputy Justin Malueg reported seeing an open bottle of vodka in the center console area of the truck.
Malueg noted Farmer’s eyes were bloodshot and his eyelids were droopy.
“He had a very slow, thick and slurred speech,” Malueg reported. “His speech was incoherent at times and his sentences would trail off so I could not understand them. He also would not listen when asked to stay still in his seat. He attempted to crawl over to the passenger side of the vehicle at one point.”
Weyauwega firefighters and Fremont paramedics struggled to remove Farmer from the truck for more than 10 minutes. He reportedly threatened to fight with them, the complaint says.
When asked how much alcohol he had to drink, Farmer reportedly said, “A lot.”
When Malueg questioned him, Farmer’s responses were vulgar and incoherent, according to the complaint.
While at ThedaCare for treatment of his injuries, Farmer is reported to have told medical staff that he wanted to fight with them.
Farmer is currently in custody on a $750,000 cash bond.