Authorities have identified the victims of a devastating crash that occurred in western Wisconsin, resulting in the loss of eight lives. The incident took place at an intersection in the rural community of Dewhurst, where a van collided with a semi-trailer, leaving a 2-year-old child as the sole survivor.
The van's occupants, including the driver, James K. McCoy, and seven Virginia residents, tragically lost their lives in the crash. The victims were identified as Linda Byler, Lydia Byler, Orla Schrock, Ellen Schrock, Delila Schrock, Suzanna Hertzler, and a 6-month-old child. The semi-trailer driver, Daniel Liddicoat of Rewey, Wisconsin, also perished in the collision.
According to the Clark County sheriff's office, the van, traveling northbound, failed to yield at a stop sign and pulled into the path of the eastbound semi-trailer. The impact of the crash resulted in multiple occupants being ejected from the van, with the 2-year-old child miraculously surviving the ordeal.
A witness, Nathaniel Jahn, recounted the harrowing moments following the crash. Jahn, who was on his way to work, rushed to the scene and discovered a woman trapped in the wreckage. He then found a second woman lying near the front of the truck. Amidst the debris, Jahn heard the cries of a child and located the 2-year-old boy, whom he rescued from the dangerous proximity to the burning van and semi-trailer.
Jahn, a former Marine, and his family later visited the crash site to pay their respects. He expressed a sense of purpose in being present at the scene and finding the child, whom he comforted and safely handed over to authorities. The child, who remains unnamed, was visited by Jahn and his wife at the hospital, where they met the child's grandparents.
The tragic incident has left a community in mourning, with the heroic actions of Nathaniel Jahn providing a glimmer of hope amidst the sorrow. As investigations into the crash continue, the memory of the lives lost will be honored, and support extended to the families affected by this heartbreaking event.
