Here’s what we know about the victims of the Waukesha holiday parade tragedy
WAUKESHA, Wis. — Officials have identified the five people killed when a Milwaukee man drove a vehicle into a crowded holiday parade in Waukesha on Sunday.
The victims ranged in age from 52 to 81; four were women and one was a man. They include:
- Tamara Durand, 52
- Jane Kulich, 52
- LeAnna Owen, 71
- Virginia Sorenson, 79
- Wilhelm Hospel, 81
RELATED: Chief: No evidence parade-crash suspect knew anyone on route
Multiple victims were members of a group called the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, the group, which describes itself as a “group of grannies that meet once a week to practice routines for summer and winter parades,” posted on Facebook.
“Our group was doing what they loved, performing in front of crowds in a parade putting smiles on faces of all ages, filling them with joy and happiness,” the post reads. “While performing the grannies enjoyed hearing the crowds [sic] cheers and applause which certainly brought smiles to their faces and warmed their hearts. Those who died were extremely passionate Grannies. Their eyes gleamed…..joy of being a Grannie. They were the glue….held us together.”
RELATED: Milwaukee’s ‘Dancing Grannies’ devastated by parade crash
A GoFundMe verified by the crowdfunding platform described Kulich as, “a loving, beautiful and charismatic mother, grandmother and friend to so many.”
At least 48 other people, including both children and adults, were injured in the incident, Waukesha Fire Department Chief Steve Howard said during a news conference Monday afternoon. He stressed that number could increase.
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Eighteen children between the ages of 3 and 16 were taken to Children’s Wisconsin, the hospital said. Ten were admitted into the pediatric intensive care unit and six were in critical condition as of Monday morning.
Verified GoFundMe fundraisers also identified some of the victims who were injured as members of the Waukesha South High School band and Waukesha Xtreme Dance team.
MORE: How you can support victims of Waukesha parade tragedy
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