HLWW student killed Wednesday in traffic accident
May 28, 2008 by Lynda Jensen, Editor
Filed under General
UPDATED SUNDAY AT 9:30 P.M.
A severe car accident took place Wednesday – just days before graduation for HLWW – with four Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted seniors involved, as they returned from the section track meet on Highway 55 near Annandale.
Killed was HLWW senior Madey Kleve, 18 who was one of three candidates for Miss Howard Lake this year.
Among the injured are senior Kacie Carlsted, 18, who is a prolific dancer and also a candidate for Miss Howard Lake, who has a broken pelvis, punctured lung and facial injuries; senior Mitch Bayerl, 18, who was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center, and Brie Barfknecht of Waverly, who was taken to Buffalo Hospital, treated and released.
All four are honor students.
During the graduation ceremony Sunday, many were pleasantly surprised by the presence of Mitch Bayerl at the ceremony in a wheelchair, wan and tired, but able to smile and interact. He was only just able to start walking the day before, according to the Caring Bridge web site. Brie Barfknecht also took part in the ceremony with her fellow classmates.
The Kleve family also attended, as well as Marshall Carlsted on behalf of Kacie.
Madey Kleve
Rather than planning their daughter’s future during graduation, Dan and Julie Kleve were put in the position of planning their daughter’s funeral instead.
Nevertheless, the Kleves attended the graduation ceremony with daughters Morgan and McCall. The girls tearfully accepted Madey’s diploma.
Visitation for Madey was set for Monday, June 2 at 4-8 p.m, with a 7 p.m. prayer time at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Funeral service is set for Tuesday, June 3 at 2 p.m., with visitation a half hour prior at the new Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School, located at County Road 6 south & 30. Arrangements are being made by Swanson-Peterson. Madey’s obituary is located inside.
Kacie Carlsted
Kacie’s twin brother, Erick Carlsted, reported Wednesday night that his sister was doing OK in intensive care at St. Cloud Hospital, in an attempt to calm concerned questions from the community during the initital confusion of the accident.
According to the Caring Bridge web site for Kacie, she has multiple injuries, including head injury (brain), facial fractures-left eye and maxillary sinus, pelvic fractures, liver laceration (stable – not bleeding as of Thursday), punctured lung (showed healed on CT scan), rib fracture, lower spinal injury (as far as we can tell no spinal cord damage), cervical spine – neck possible injury.
Kacie’s mother, Lee Ann Carlsted, wrote the following update Saturday afternoon on the Caring Bridge site for Kacie: “Kacie is stable and still in critical condition. She moved her left hand today when the nurse cleaned her mouth out. This is a good sign because she has not moved her left hand before this. She is moving on a subconscious level and is reacting to pain stimulus (she does not like having her mouth cleaned out).”
“Surgery is still scheduled for Monday (today) for her face and will have the tube in her neck (treacheotomy) for breathing done at that time,” Lee Ann wrote.
Kacie is a well known dancer with the Barbara Lee Studio of Dance. Barbara Lee commented on Kacie’s Caring Bridge site that she will be dedicating this year’s dance recital to Kacie.
Mitch Bayerl
Mitch Bayerl was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center, which is where he remains; although he was able to obtain a brief pass to attend the HLWW graduation Sunday. He accepted his diploma himself, while being pushed in a wheelchair.
This helped improve the tone of the ceremony entirely, according to some parents who attended, saying that the other graduates took the cue of positivity from Bayerl and went from there.
However, the graduates did not toss their caps as they normally would; but Silly String still took place. A touching song by the choir caused an impromptu show of solidarity by graduates in their gowns, as they walked down the choir steps, linked arms and sang “Up Where We Belong.”
Hopefully the activity wasn’t too much for Bayerl, who had only the day before had the doctor take out Mitch’s chest tube. He was able to sit and visit with some of his teachers and family, as well as able to visit with some of his close friends. This was a huge step, according to his family, because Mitch stayed wide awake the entire visit (about two hours.) On Saturday, up until the journal entry was made, Mitch was able to walk the hallway four times.
Bayerl went to Holy Trinity up to the ninth grade, and his Caring Bridge comments were packed full of well wishes from the Winsted area as well as elsewhere.
An outpouring of grief, sympathy from many
Grief counselors, youth pastors, and many others were on hand Thursday morning at HLWW trying to console dozens of crying students, who were shaken with grief. Some on hand included Lisa Weninger, ag instructor Jim Weninger’s wife, Pastor Rick Messer, youth pastor Matt Wagner, Dennis Entinger and several others, along with Principal Mike Day and Supt. George Ladd.
More than 96 messages were received on the HJ Blog over a four-day period.
Carlsted is the daughter of Lee Ann and Marshall Carlsted of Howard Lake, and Bayerl the son of Tom and Janette Bayerl of Silver Lake. Brie Barfknecht is from Waverly, and the daughter of Lyle Barfknecht and DeAnne Jenkins.
The accident took place 6:11 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Wright Co. Rd. 6 and Highway 55 and was broadside crash in nature, according to an accident report by the State Patrol.
The HLWW students were traveling southbound in a 2001 Altima, with Brie Barfknecht as the driver, when they stopped at the intersection of Wright Co. Rd. 6 and Highway 55, located between Annandale and Maple Lake. Then, according to the State Patrol, the Altima rolled into the path of a 1997 Dodge Ram truck going eastbound on Highway 55, driven by Josh Hoffenkamp, 27, of Maple Lake, with passengers Kaia Hoffenkamp, 4, and Seann Hoffenkamp, 2, of Maple Lake. All three truck occupants received non-life threatening injuries.
The collision caused the car to end up in the southeast ditch, according to the truck driver and a witness at the scene, reported Chuck Sterling of the Annandale Advocate.
The truck ended up in the westbound turning lane at the intersection, facing east, Sterling reported.
Two of the four occupants of the car were thrown, Carlsted and Bayerl. Kleve was killed on impact, with Carlsted and Bayerl listed in critical condition.
Click here for Kacie Carlsted’s Caring Bridge web site
Click here for Mitch Bayerl’s Caring Bridge web site
To see a videotaped report by KARE 11 news, click here.
to the Kleve’s our sincere prayers and heartfelt sympathy. Losing a child has got to be unbearable. To all the others in the accident a super recovery physical as well as emotional. The Lord be with us all through this tragic time.
As I read all of the postings I can see and feel the extent of the impact of this tragedy extends much farther than the limits of our little community. The past days have been emotional to say the least. The support that all of the families have received has been amazing, I can not begin to express my appreciation and thanks. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you. As our families are in your prayers, your families are in ours, the emotional pain extends a lot farther than only to the young adults involved in the accident and their families. This will be a long road to recovery and I am confident that we will all get through. If I have learned one thing from this tragedy is that this community and all of the people who have reached out from other schools, churches, cities and states is that we are not alone in this. I have learned a lot from the HLWW kids, they are strong and united and will see each other through the tough times ahead.
I would like to make a special note to a blog that I read from Heather Kaskinen
Heather,
I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am Brie Barfknecht’s step mother. To be honest, we have been avoiding as much news and media coverage as possible over the past days. This tragedy has impacted us all and it has taken me until today to start to explore the accuracy and detail of the media’s account of the accident as well as any scrutiny of any details surrounding the moment that changed our lives and the lives of everyone it has touched forever. As I conducted my search, I stumbled across your addition to the blog on the Herald Journal; I was touched by your words as you recalled your description of the series of events that occurred that fateful evening. I know that you being at that intersection changed your life as well, but I am thankful for your presence. Your quick response, common sense and training may very well be the reason that three of those kids made it out of that iron mess. Although I do not know you, your mother or your family friend, you are all in my prayers. In today’s society more often than not people choose not to get involved, it is people like you that keep the faith that not all good intentions and kindness are lost. Our grief for the loss of Dan and Julie weigh heavy on our hearts with each and every beat, but thanks to you and the actions of all of the individuals that responded to the collision, Brie, Kacie and Mitch; who are all bright, gifted and talented young adults with bright futures will have the ability to shape their own futures and spend the rest of their lives to continue to make contributions that would make Madey proud. We can not protect our children every minute of every day, but what gives me solace is that people like you exist and act as guardians when we need to let them spread their wings in their journeys to be their own people. Again, myself as well as Brie’s whole family would like to thank you as well as everyone who responded and contributed their efforts putting their selves in harms way to help others. I will forever be grateful.
Sincerely,
Jill Barfknecht
I want to address this to the girl that was driving the vehicle. I know she is suffering very much and wishes she could turn the clock back to before the accident. However take comfort in that God used you as tool in this accident. Sometimes our time to go is not only when we get old, but as a young person. There is nothing we can do when it is ones time to go, God has that in his hands to which no matter what, madie time was to go for some reason that we cannot fathom. My heart goes out to all involved and do hope all will be okay. Sincerely Margaret
Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the Kleve and Stenberg families. We are so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful Madey. We will continue to pray that God will bring you comfort and give you strength in this very difficult time.
We will also continue to pray for Brie, Kacie and Mitchell as they all continue to heal.
God bless you all.
Julie and family,
When I read the news report and recognized the Kleve name, I was hoping it wasn’t anyone I knew, but today found out it was the same Julie I knew at LB. I’m so sorry for you and your family. I lost a cousin in his senior year of high school from a motorcycle accident. You must go on for the sake of your other children, even though you’ll never forget or totally recover from this sadness. Know that I’m thinking of you.
To Dan Kleve and Family
Our hearts go out to you at this difficult time. There is no greater sadness then the loss of a child as I know from losing my son Ken. May you find strength from friends and family to make it through each day. May God hold you in his hands and comfort you when you need it. You are in my prayers. Becky, Bud and Family
My sincerest sympathies to all involved and touched by this tragedy. The students of HLWW have impressed me each time I’ve covered an event for the newspaper. They’ve made me laugh at the different coronations with their skits, and have shown that they have a bright future. May God bless all of you.