A devastating crash on Friday night, December 13, 2024, claimed the life of Jacob Reich, a 26-year-old man from West Bend, Wisconsin. The fatal accident occurred around 9:46 p.m. on Highway 45 near County Trunk Highway Y in the Town of Auburn, Fond du Lac County. Reich’s sudden passing has left his family, friends, and community grappling with an immense loss.
Emergency responders from the Campbellsport and Kewaskum Fire Departments rushed to the scene, along with Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies, hoping to rescue the victims from the wreckage. According to initial reports, Reich was driving his pickup truck southbound on Highway 45 when, for reasons still under investigation, his vehicle crossed into the northbound lanes.
Tragically, the truck collided head-on with an SUV driven by a 16-year-old girl from Campbellsport. The impact of the crash caused Reich’s truck to roll several times before coming to rest on its side, marking a horrifying end to what was supposed to be a normal Friday evening.
Despite the best efforts of medical personnel at the scene, Jacob Reich was unresponsive when they arrived. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward, with his body trapped inside the wreckage. The young girl driving the SUV, while seriously injured, was more fortunate.
She was quickly airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee, where she is receiving treatment for her injuries. As of now, her condition remains critical, but authorities are hopeful for her recovery.
It was later confirmed by the police that Jacob Reich was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, a factor that may have contributed to the severity of his injuries. The 16-year-old driver, on the other hand, was wearing her seatbelt, which likely saved her life despite the violent nature of the collision.
