SAWYER COUNTY — The Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of 18-year-old female who died on August 19th after being struck by a vehicle, according to an updated press release from The Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office.
Press Release
On August 19, 2023 there was a fatality that occurred on Snowmobile Trail #31 near Sissabagama Road in the town of Sand Lake.
The victim was identified as Kaylie B. Schwingle, 18, of Chippewa Falls, WI. The name of the suspect of the hit and run will not be released at this time.
- Related: Obituary for Kaylie B. Schwingle
It was learned during the course of the investigation that both the suspect and the victim attended a large underage alcohol party as part of an invite on a common social media platform called “Snapchat”. The suspect involved in the hit and run, a 16-year-old male was leaving the party driving a 2011 Ford F-350. As he came over a rise in the trail he ran over Schwingle who was sitting along the side of the trail. Schwingle later died from her injuries.
Snapchat parties are very well organized and are multi-district parties with people coming from all areas of the state. Once invited, the Snapchat user will request a PIN number and when entered it will pin the location of the party on the app. Often times these parties are held in very remote areas. It has been reported that as many as 200-300 party goers will attend one of these pre-arranged parties.
Local law enforcement is asking that anyone with information regarding Snapchat party invites or anyone seeing an unusually large amount of vehicle traffic in remote areas to please contact local law enforcement.
-- Per Sheriff Doug Mrotek
Last Update: Aug 23, 2023 4:04 pm CDT
