Fifth traffic fatality of 2016 occurs in St. Croix County in the Town of Troy

On Friday, October 21, 2016, at 3:21pm, the St. Croix County Sheriffs Office responded to a crash in the 400 block of State Highway 35, in the Town of Troy.

Preliminary investigation indicates a 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada was northbound on STH 35 being driven by Kyra Faith Hayes, age 16 from Beldenville WI. A second vehicle, a 2007 Ford Taurus being driven by Makellia S. Jensen, age 21 from Big Lake, MN, was also northbound on STH 35. According to a witness, Jensen had both hands on a cellular phone, seconds before the crash. The Makellia vehicle drifted into the lane occupied by Hayes, causing Hayes to take evasive action, losing control, and the vehicle rolled several times. Hayes was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Croix County Medical Examiner.

Hayes was not wearing a seatbelt.

The vehicles did not make contact. Jensen returned to the scene of the crash after turning around in a crossover.

Jensen was not injured. A passenger in the Jensen vehicle, Kalen L. Chase, age 22, from Minneapolis MN was also not injured.

The crash remains under investigation by the St. Croix County Sheriffs Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office.

This is the 5th traffic fatality of 2016.

Assisting at the scene was River Falls Fire Dept. and EMS; and the Wisconsin State Patrol.