Officials on Wednesday identified the 10-year-old classmates who were killed in an ATV crash over the weekend in Washington County.
Officials ID 10-year-old classmates killed in ATV crash in Afton over the weekend
Both girls were in the combined fourth- and fifth-grade class at New Heights School in Stillwater.
April 25, 2023 at 5:25PM
Alexis "Lexi" Marie Gibson of Mahtomedi and Savanna Lee Koeckeritz of Afton suffered fatal injuries late Saturday afternoon after their ATV rolled over on private property in the 1000 block of Neal Avenue S. in Afton, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies and other first responders arrived to find the girls pinned beneath the recreational vehicle, according to the Sheriff's Office. They died at the scene.
The Sheriff's Office said the girls were not wearing helmets. The office did not say which of the girls was operating the ATV.
State regulations allow ATV operators ages 10 and 11 to ride on private property. The block where the crash occurred is home to Koeckeritz Excavating.
Both girls were in the combined fourth- and fifth-grade class at New Heights School in Stillwater.
In a statement, Principal Tom Kearney said, "Both girls have been enrolled at our school together since kindergarten. … Lexi and Savanna were both good students and friends to many throughout the school, but especially to those in their classroom.
"This tragedy has left a giant hole in our school community, and our students, staff, and administration are doing everything we can to support the families of Lexi and Savanna."
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