Teen Dies in Crash on the Way Home from School, Just Over a Week After 17th Birthday

Mar. 15, 2025

GoFundMe

A Minnesota girl was killed in a car crash more than one week after her 17th birthday as she headed home from school.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said the two-vehicle crash happened on Friday, Feb. 14, at Stagecoach Trail North and 10th Street North in Washington County, NBC affiliateKAREreported.

At the time, authorities believed the weather, which was snowing at the time, may have been a factor in the crash, according to ABC affiliateKSTPand CBS affiliateWCCO.

Radecki was on her way home from her school, St. Croix Prep Academy, in Stillwater when she was killed, WCCO reported.

“Before I went off to work, we gave each other a hug and said ‘I love you,'” he told WCCO. “We’re both so grateful those were the last words that were said.”

“The people who are reaching out to us letting us know the impact that she had on their life has been one of the reasons … we are breathing,” he said.

“We’re learning now just how many lives she touched,” Dawn told the outlet.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A celebration of life service is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22.

PEOPLE contacted the GoFundMe organizer, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for additional information on Friday.

source: people.com