Deadly out of state crash

A 12-year-old Waseca girl was killed and the rest of her family injured in a double fatal crash in northern Wisconsin on August 4. 

Jocelynn J.A. Passon, 12, was a passenger in a pickup truck with her younger brother and parents. Passon was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Ethan R. Whitwam, 18, of Durand, Wisconsin was also killed in the crash. 

Around 2:40 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office received several 911 calls reporting a very serious traffic accident with one vehicle on fire and several people, including children, trapped inside, according to a release from the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office. This happened just east of the U.S. Highway 10 and Sylvester Road intersection in northwestern Pepin County.

Initial investigation shows that a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix was being driven east on Highway 10 by Whitwam when it crossed into the westbound lanes and struck the Passons’ westbound 2016 Chevrolet Silverado head on. 

The pickup’s owner and driver, Steve Passon, 40, of Waseca, was transported by helicopter to an Eau Claire Hospital with critical injuries. Passon’s wife Jessica, 36, was treated and released at the same hospital. While their daughter Jocelynn was killed, their 8-year-old son Drake sustained critical injuries and was transported to a Minneapolis hospital by helicopter. 

The Pepin County Sheriff’s Office did not have an update on the conditions of Drake and Steven.

A GoFundMe page started for the Passon family stated that Jessica was able to pull her two children out of the burning car and that a passerby was eventually able to pull Steven from the vehicle as well. 

That same passerby, along with three others, all had some level of medical training and immediately began providing medical aid. The fire was primarily extinguished by the first deputy on scene prior to the arrival of firefighters. 

The crash remains under investigation by the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol. The Durand Fire Department, Durand Ambulance Service, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Plum City Ambulance, Plum City Fire Department, Menomonie Fire Department Paramedics, Mayo Clinic Ambulance Helicopter, North Memorial Air Care Helicopter, Pepin County Highway Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and the Wisconsin DNR all assisted the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office.