Unimaginable loss’: 11-year-old girl on way to school dead after pickup truck driver allegedly ran stop sign

Authorities say the family was struck by the driver of a truck who went through a stop sign.

It happened just before 8 a.m. at the intersection of County Road 6 and County Road 110/County Road 83 in Independence, according to the West Hennepin Public Safety Department.

Officials said a mother and father were driving their four children to school when they stopped at the four-way stop. Witnesses said they proceeded to cross County Road 6 going south. Witnesses said a pickup truck going west did not stop at the stop sign and collided with the family’s vehicle, the press release states.

The family included the two parents, a 4-year-old boy, two 15-year-old boys, and an 11-year-old girl. The 11-year-old was taken to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis where she died from her injuries Friday. The rest of the family’s injuries were described by authorities as “moderate to severe.”

“Our beloved 11-year-old daughter, Lilyana, along with our family, was involved in a serious accident on Wednesday morning. We are devastated to share that after being on life support for the last two days, Lilyana passed at Children’s Minnesota earlier today. We find comfort in Lilyana’s legacy soon living on through organ donation. For those wanting to support our family during this difficult time, please consider donating to this GoFundMe.  Lilyana was the heart of our family, with a giving and generous spirit that was felt by all around her. Our family would like to thank the community for its thoughts and well wishes, and request privacy at this difficult time. We will not be releasing any further information to the media.”

According to the West Hennepin Public Safety Department, the driver in the pickup truck was an 18-year-old from St. Paul.

“This is an extremely devastating incident for the family, our community, and our first responders. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they endure this unimaginable loss. We ask that the community respect their privacy as they grieve and begin the healing process,” the West Hennepin Public Safety Department said in a social media post.