One Killed, 2 Others Critically Injured in Rollover Accident

Press Release

Sawyer County Sheriff Doug Mrotek

Editor's Note: One of the teenage girls critically injured in this accident has been identified by family members as Olivia Beaulieu of LCO. There are two fundraisers being held in the community to help her family with expenses and their extended stay in Duluth while she goes through her surgeries. Information on those fundraisers are below the article.

On June 21, 2024 at 3:16AM, the Sawyer County Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a single vehicle rollover with multiple injuries. The crash was located on Highline Road south of the intersection of Williams Road in the Town of Bass Lake. Sawyer County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted by the City and Town of Hayward Police Departments, LCO Police Department, Sawyer County EMS, Wisconsin State Patrol, Town of Bass Lake & Town of Hayward Fire Departments and the City of Hayward Fire Departments responded to the scene.

Initial investigation indicates that a 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac operated by Dabid Flores, 20, of Hayward, WI was traveling north on Highline Road at a high rate of speed. Flores lost control of the vehicle causing it to overturn multiple times coming to rest in the east ditchline of the northbound lane. Three passengers in the Flores vehicle,  Reese J. Frederick, 19, of Hayward, WI, a 17 year old female and a 16 year old female also from Hayward were ejected from the vehicle.

Frederick received fatal injuries and was pronuonced deceased on the scene.  The sixteen and seventeen year old female passengers sustained life threatening injuries and were transported to a Minnesota hospital for medical treatment. The extent of their injuries are unknown at this time.

Flores received minor injuries and was treated and released from a local hospital. He is currently being held in the Sawyer County Jail pending the charge of Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety.

Speed and alcohol are believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office, the Sawyer County Medical Examiner and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Fundraiser on Friday, June 28: Tina Miller and Amanda Scheel are having a food sale this Friday at the LCO Ojibwe University from 11am-sold out. They will be serving hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, with green beans, frybread, dessert, and a beverage. $15 per plate. 100% of the proceeds will be going to the families of the two girls seriously injured in a car accident on June 21st. A donation jar will also be there if you aren’t hungry and just want to donate.

Fundraiser on Thursday, June 27: