16-year-old girl killed in two-vehicle crash in Kenosha County; two others hurt

KENOSHA COUNTY (WITI) -- A 16-year-old girl is dead after a crash on New Year's Eve that occurred near Highway 50 and 392nd Avenue in the Town of Wheatland.

The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 31st.

Investigators say Samantha Russell of Wheatland Township was driving a full size pickup truck, headed northbound on 392nd Avenue. The truck entered the westbound lanes of State Highway 50.

A full size van driven by 34-year-old Jennifer Walsh of Beach Park, Illinois was headed westbound on State Highway 50 and struck the pickup truck at the intersection of Highway 50 and 392nd Avenue.

Officials say the impact of the crash caused the truck to roll, pinning the 16-year-old driver inside. The 16-year-old girl died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Her 12-year-old passenger, Kayla Brown of Wheatland Township was taken by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital for treatment of very serious injuries.

The 34-year-old woman driving the van was taken to a Burlington hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Officials say she has been fully cooperative with the investigation.

We're told there is no indication that alcohol, drugs or speed were factors in the crash.

Traffic on the westbound lanes of State Highway 50 was subsequently re-routed while emergency personnel were on scene and during the investigation of the crash. State Highway 50 westbound was closed for approximately three hours and fifteen minutes.

Thursday morning, friends of the teen's family were out trying to erase any reminders of Wednesday's tragedy.

Louis Denko sweeps away the wreckage from Wednesday's accident. Denko says he's friends with the family of 16-year-old Russell.

Denko is cleaning the debris because he says he doesn't want the girl's relatives to see any of the wreckage when they drive by.

Cody Jensen says he went to Burlington High School with Russell.

"A lot of my friends on Facebook are saying they can't believe it happened to someone we knew, best friends are saying, we can't believe it happened," said Jensen.

Jensen also works near the site of the accident -- an intersection he describes as dangerous.

"It's mostly the curve and the speed of the vehicles. We've been waiting for them to put a stop light in or something at this intersection and I honestly don't know if it's gonna happen but I think it would help out quite a bit," said Jensen.

While bits of plastic and glass remain near the intersection, most of the debris is in the back of Denko's truck. One man looking after his friends, who must begin 2015 in the most heartbreaking way imaginable.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

There have been no charges or traffic citations filed in this case.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this story.