A Minnesota mother lost two of her four sons after a UTV (utility terrain vehicle) driven by her older child collided with a pickup truck on January 7.
Lara Dahl said her boys, William and Harrison Dahls, ages 15 and 11 respectively, died after the devastating crash that occurred two weeks ago near Wilmar, Minnesota.
William was driving the Polaris Ranger with his two younger brothers on the way home when their UTV collided with a pickup driven by Matthew Leroy Anderson, 40, who was not injured.
The 15-year-old boy lost his life two days after the crash. His younger brother, Harrison, was pronounced dead a week later at the same hospital.
“(Harrison) fought so hard, but his little body couldn’t handle all the stress and trauma. We will miss his witty comments, his energy, his adventurous self,” the stricken mother further wrote a CaringBridge pageannouncing the tragic news.
Lara Dahl lost two of her four sons, William and Harrison Dahls (pictured second and fourth from left), after a UTV (utility all-terrain vehicle) driven by her older child collided with a pick-up truck on January 7 in Wilmar, Minnesota. up. The Dahl brothers pictured from left: Drew, William, Gage and Harrison
Lara Dahl (second from left) said her boys, William and Harrison Dahls, ages 15 and 11 respectively, died after the devastating crash that occurred near Wilmar, Minnesota, two weeks ago
The family took their pickup and UTV to a hunting area to pick up trail cameras and deer stands on a normal Sunday afternoon, Lara said.
‘We drove the ranger around, laughing, all the boys showed me where they got their money. It was seriously the best afternoon!’ she wrote.
“When they got back to the truck, Will, Harry and Drew asked if they could drive the ranger home, something they’ve done dozens of times.”
Lara, her husband, Mike, and their second oldest son, Gage, headed home in the truck and started preparing dinner until they got a call about the crash.
She recalled, “I knew something was wrong because it took so long. Mike was called and we arrived on scene quickly.’
‘Will and Harry weren’t moving, but they were breathing. Drew screamed. We didn’t know how serious their injuries were, but Will was immediately flown from the scene.”
The other two boys, Harrison and Drew, were transported by ambulance and later flown to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis – the same hospital where William was sent.
William suffered the worst injuries among the three boys, and doctors were unable to detect any brain activity after he was rushed to hospital.
Lara wrote on January 8: ‘Sleepless night of tears, the unknown, and kissing our babies was the most horrible night of our lives.’
After two brain analyzes that showed no activity, William was declared dead. His family decided to donate his organs to help other children in need.
The family took their pickup and UTV to a hunting area to pick up trail cameras and deer stands on a normal Sunday afternoon, Lara said.
Lara, her husband Mike and their second oldest son Gage went home in the truck and started preparing dinner until they got a call about the crash
Lara described him as “the best son, the best brother, the best friend anyone could ever have… always testing, always smiling, refusing help, walking early and potty training yourself.”
After being rushed to hospital, Harrison immediately underwent surgery to insert a tube that recorded his brain activity and heavily anesthetize him.
The 11-year-old fought for his life for more than a week, but “his little body couldn’t handle all the stress and trauma,” the devastated mother wrote on Tuesday.
Their youngest brother Drew, 10, had a bump on his head, a bruise and two small cuts on his liver.
He’s been released from the hospital, “walking and eating like a champ,” and even Zooming with the entire class, as his mother shared.
Lara wrote: ‘He needs to take it easy for the next month so after his FaceTime with his buddy they made a plan for him to be the referee of the football match.’
Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow told it Star Tribune that the investigation continues into which driver had the right of way.
A spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources said the UTV was being used on a road where all-terrain vehicles are not allowed.
Anderson, who was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado that collided with the UTV, was not injured in the crash.
According to the state’s crash update page, the fatal crash involved an unbelted or unrestrained occupant.
Posts and messages dedicated to the two boys have flooded Facebook, with friends and neighbors sending prayers to the Dahl family
Posts and messages dedicated to the two boys have flooded Facebook, with friends and neighbors sending prayers to the Dahl family.
One person wrote, “They have loved, they have helped, they have guided, they have strengthened, they have learned.
“The number of lives they impacted at such young ages truly shows the amazing work God, Lara and Mike did for their Dahl brothers,” the post reads.
Another person wrote: ‘Lara Dahl is the best mother to those boys. Such an inspiration and so selfless in everything she does. From mother to mother, from friend to friend and from neighbor to neighbor: we share the pain.’
Local restaurant The Handle Bar is hosting a fundraising event and silent auction on Saturday, to donate $1 for every drink sold, with the bar matching that amount.
a GoFundMe A page has been set up for the family and has raised more than $160,000 as of Wednesday evening, far exceeding its $50,000 goal.