12-year-old dies in head-on crash as family drives home from funeral, loved ones say

A 12-year-old girl died and two of her family members were critically hurt in a head-on crash as they drove home from a funeral, according to loved ones and Wisconsin authorities.

The Pepin County Sheriff’s Office said the two-vehicle crash happened Friday, Aug. 4. A Pontiac Grand Prix crossed the center line of the road, striking a Chevrolet Silverado head-on, according to a news release obtained by WRDN.

Four members of the Passon family were in the truck, which deputies found on fire when they arrived. Jocelynn Passon, the 12-year-old daughter of the truck’s driver, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Jocelynn’s father, 40-year-old Steven Passon, and brother, 8-year-old Drake Passon, were flown to hospitals with critical injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.

A GoFundMe says Drake has since been discharged and the father has “extensive leg injuries.”

The family, from Waseca, Minnesota, was traveling home from a funeral, a Pepin County deputy told The Free Press.

“The sudden loss of Jocelynn has left the family’s hearts shattered,” the GoFundMe says.

The driver of the Grand Prix, 18-year-old Ethan Whitwham, also died in the crash, according to the sheriff.

Waseca is about 70 miles south of Minneapolis.

This story was originally published August 8, 2023 at 9:18 AM with the headline "12-year-old dies in head-on crash as family drives home from funeral, loved ones say."