ROCKFORD, MN — A pedestrian crash on Ash Street at approximately 1:53 p.m. on May 3 has left one woman dead and another seriously injured.
Authorities report that a 15-year-old girl, driving a Chrysler van with her mother, struck 56-year-old Renee Delong and 55-year-old Laura Leigh Bachinski. Bachinski succumbed to her injuries, while Delong remains hospitalized.
Witnesses reported seeing the van at the Ash Street intersection with its right-turn signal activated before it “suddenly accelerated.” One witness stated the van jerked out of control, crossing the sidewalk and colliding with a home after impacting the two women.
Two additional witnesses also confirmed seeing the crash. One observed Delong being thrown into the air, while Bachinski was reportedly trapped beneath the van. Another witness noted the women were walking “well into the grass” when struck.
The teen driver told investigators she was attempting to make a right turn when she saw another vehicle approaching, causing her to steer wide. She claimed her mother was yelling for her to brake, but she froze and lost control of the vehicle.
Court records indicate the teen admitted she may have stopped prior to the accident, suggesting that she applied the brakes too hard and then pressed the accelerator, leading to the crash.
A search warrant has been issued to obtain the vehicle's event data recorder, which will provide information about its movements before the incident.
Authorities continue their investigation into the crash.