Authorities ID 2 teenagers who died at Renaissance Festival

Published 8:24 am Monday, September 5, 2016

SHAKOPEE — Authorities have identified two 17-year-old girls who were killed in a crash outside of the Renaissance Festival near Shakopee.

The Scott County sheriff’s office said the one-car crash was reported around 7 a.m. Saturday on a gravel service road at the festival grounds. The car left the road and collided with trees.

Passenger Taylor Ann Wieland, of Le Center, died at the scene. Driver Cheyenne Rose Smith, of Prior Lake, was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center.

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According to a Renaissance Festival spokesperson, the teenagers worked as parking attendants at the festival.

Investigators say they don’t believe drugs or alcohol were a factor, but neither girl was wearing a seatbelt.