(from news releases)
Two people from Sartell died in separate tragic accidents that occurred July 22 and 23. The names of the deceased are Ellie Wittstruck, 18; and Dylan Barthel, 38.
Wittstruck
Wittstruck died in a two-vehicle crash July 22 in Avon Township near St. Anna. She died at the scene of the accident. A passenger, Gracie Grams, 18, of St. Cloud, suffered life-threatening injuries. She was flown by Life Link helicopter to St. Cloud Hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the news release.
The accident happened at 2:17 p.m. at the intersection of CR 9 and CR 52/Two Rivers Road less than a mile north of St. Anna.
Douglas Blonigen, 62, of Avon, had been driving his 2014 Chrysler minivan southbound on CR 9. As he entered the intersection, he saw a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by Wittstruck, in front of him from the west.
Blonigen did not have time to brake and struck the car on the driver’s side, according to the release.
When deputies arrived, they found the two vehicles with heavy damage in the ditch of CR 9.
Blonigen suffered minor injuries and was not taken for treatment, according to the release.
A GoFundMe was created to help support the family of Ellie with end-of-life costs during this difficult time.
The fundraising post states this: “The loss of a child is an unimaginable pain and heartache that no parent should have to endure. Ellie had a huge heart. Having just graduated in the class of 2024 from Sartell High School , her future was full of opportunities. Her memory will live on through her parents, siblings and others that were fortunate enough to spend time with her.”
The fundraising link is this: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-cover-ellie-klukkens-funeral-costs
Barthel
Dylan Barthel died instantly July 23 when a piece of a giant crane fell on him while he and others were working to assemble the crane at a workstation.
It happened at 11 a.m. in the 400 block of Seventh Avenue N. in Waite Park.
Barthel was pinned under the crane section and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office preliminary summary listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries.
