Details released in crash that killed 8-year-old

Published 10:58 am Tuesday, July 5, 2016

More details have been released in the death of an 8-year-old Albert Lea girl.

Sophie Stultz died Saturday after she was struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle.

According to the Albert Lea Police Department, Stephen Laverne Kaasa, 70, of Albert Lea was driving a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer south on Frank Hall Drive approaching Eighth Street. Sophie Stultz and another juvenile bicyclist were reportedly heading east on Eighth Street toward Frank Hall Drive.

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The bicyclists reportedly rode in front of the vehicle while attempting to turn left onto Frank Hall Drive. The first bicyclist reportedly crossed the intersection before Sophie Stultz was struck. Kaasa reportedly did not see Stultz, and reportedly had the right-of-way at the intersection.

The crash was reported at around 11:31 a.m. Saturday.

While on scene, emergency personnel attempted lifesaving measures and Sophie Stultz was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. She later succumbed to injuries she sustained in the crash.

Visitation for Sophie Stultz is from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Albert Lea High School auditorium and the funeral is at 11 a.m. Friday, also at the high school.

A GoFundMe page to help the Stultz family offset costs as of this morning had raised over $14,000. To visit the page, click here.

About Sam Wilmes

Sam Wilmes covers crime, courts and government for the Albert Lea Tribune.

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