Friday, March 19, 2010

A young girl has suffered serious injuries after a golf cart accident Wednesday evening in Butler County. She has been identified as 13-year-old Regan Wheeler.

The hospital says Regan died Friday morning.

Butler County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to Fox Lake where they found that Wheeler had been driving a golf cart and had tried to make a turn onto an embankment above a creek.

She lost control of the cart and became entangled in a barbed wire fence while teetering on the embankment over the creek.

Wheeler was entangled for approximately 30 minutes before an adult arrived and freed her from the wire. Two other young girls were passengers in the cart and had tried unsuccessfully to free Wheeler. Neither passenger was injured in the accident.

With the golf cart teetering above the creek, the adult was able to stabilize the cart by using an extension cord tied to his pickup to keep the cart from falling into the creek.

When deputies arrived, Wheeler was unresponsive. She was flown to Wesley Medical Center in critical condition for treatment where she later died.

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Statement from the Wheeler family:

It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of our beloved daughter and sister, Regan Wheeler. Regan passed from injuries sustained while living life to the fullest, the only way she knew how. Regan never met a stranger; family, friends and all who ever met her will miss her.

The Wheeler family would like to thank all who supported and prayed for Regan. Our family is truly thankful and humbled by the show of support, love and compassion that we have received from our many friends. We know that the many prayers for Regan have been answered and we have been blessed by our time with her.

We ask that you will respect our family’s privacy at this difficult time.

Gratefully,

Rick, Konnie and Madison Wheeler