Cassy Maurer, the daughter of a Becker man who died in last week’s tragic crash on U.S. Highway 10 near Becker, will be taken off life support, gradually this week, as doctors at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale have told the Maurer family she will not recover from the injuries sustained in the two-vehicle accident.
Her father, Charles P. Maurer, 54, Becker, was killed July 21 when the 2006 Dodge Caravan he was driving northbound on Sherburne County Highway 11 was broadsided at the US 10 intersection by a Ford F-150 headed eastbound, driven by 18-year-old Deven Garlock of Little Falls, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
All eight people involved in the accident – the two drivers and six passengers, were transported to local hospitals. Charles Maurer was air lifted to North Memorial, where he was pronounced dead. Cassy, 10, was also air lifted by North Memorial Air Care. She was in critical condition immediately after the crash.
It was thought, by doctors, Cassy would improve after a surgery to relieve pressure on her brain after the crash. However, the girl suffered several strokes in recovery, and the family announced its decision to remove her from life support earlier this week, according to CaringBridge.com.
Two other passengers in the van – Alenita Maurer, 15, and Alora Nelson, 15, were taken to local hospitals with injuries that were not considered to be life threatening.
Garlock, along with teen passengers George Saldana, Caysi Jaronkie and Carlee Bollig, all off Little Falls, were transported by ground ambulance with non life-threatening injuries.
The two drivers and six passengers were all wearing seatbelts, according to the State Patrol.
Charles Maurer and family are related to longtime St. Michael Catholic School volunteer and paraprofessional Jean Maurer of St. Michael.
The Minnesota State Patrol said the intersection at Highway 10 and Sherburne County 11 is a busy one for drivers head west of Big Lake, but is usually a safe one.
State Patrol Lieutenant Paul Van Voorhis. says it could take 60 to 90 days for the investigation to wrap up, and then prosecutors will determine whether charges are filed in the crash. At this point investigators do not believe that alcohol was a factor in the fatal crash.
Garlock is disputing the investigation, telling officials he was not driving at the time of the accident.
A GoFundMe site has been created for the Maurer family to cover Cassy’s medical expenses and funeral expenses for Charles and, now, Cassy.