Fond Du Lac Accident Claims Multiple Lives

Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, has seen several accidents involving cars, trucks, bicycles, and pedestrians that have resulted in property damage, injuries, and fatalities. One notable incident involved a speeding car crashing into a tree, leading to the deaths of two 16-year-old boys, Nevins Zoch and Tommy Koenigs, and injuring a 16-year-old girl, Gillian Schwartz. This tragedy brought together two school communities in mourning and sparked discussions about the responsibility of adults in protecting minors from the dangers of alcohol.

Two 16-year-olds died in a single-car crash in Fond du Lac County

Two 16-year-old boys, Nevins Zoch and Tommy Koenigs, died in a single-car crash in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, on January 21, 2024. A 16-year-old girl, Gillian Schwartz, was also in the car and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The car lost control and crashed into a tree. Zoch was pronounced dead at the scene, while Koenigs later died from his injuries. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on a Saturday.

The tragedy brought together two school communities in mourning and united them in support of the grieving families. The varsity boy's basketball teams for the Laconia High School Spartans and St. Mary's Springs Academy Ledgers held a moment of silence before their game to remember the lives of the two boys, who were best friends attending different schools.

The community rallied around the families, with multiple GoFundMe campaigns raising money for funeral expenses. The tragedy also highlighted the issue of underage drinking, as it was later discovered that the teens had been at an underage drinking party before the crash, and a 27-year-old woman, Sanju Paudel, was charged with providing alcohol to minors, resulting in their deaths.

This incident is one of many accidents in Fond du Lac County, which has seen numerous crashes involving cars, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians, and motorcycles, despite improvements in safety features and road design.

A 27-year-old woman was charged for providing alcohol to the teens involved in the crash

On January 21, 2023, a tragic car accident in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, took the lives of two 16-year-olds, Nevins Zoch and Tommy Koenigs, and injured a 16-year-old girl, Gillian Schwartz. The single-car crash occurred when the vehicle lost control and collided with a tree.

In the aftermath of this incident, a 27-year-old woman, Sanju Paudel, was formally charged in connection with the crash. Paudel, a clerk at a gas station in Fond du Lac, was accused of providing alcohol to minors, including the two deceased teenagers, without checking their identification. Surveillance footage supported these claims, showing Paudel selling alcohol to the teens without requesting ID.

The consequences of Paudel's actions were severe. The two teens, Zoch and Koenigs, were among a group of underage drinkers at a party. Hours after purchasing the alcohol from Paudel, their car crashed, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to another. An autopsy revealed that Koenigs had a blood-alcohol level of 0.123.

As a result of her actions, Paudel faced serious charges and consequences. She was charged with two counts of providing alcohol to a minor resulting in death, each carrying a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison and a $25,000 fine. During her first court appearance, the judge set her bond at $25,000 cash and imposed several conditions, including the surrender of her passport and restrictions on her employment in establishments selling certain products.

The Fond du Lac community united to support the grieving families of the two boys

In the wake of a tragic car accident that took the lives of two 16-year-old boys, Nevins Zoch and Tommy Koenigs, and injured a 16-year-old girl, Gillian Schwartz, the Fond du Lac community united to support the grieving families. The accident, which occurred on January 21, 2024, involved a single car that lost control and crashed into a tree in Fond du Lac County.

Just three days after the accident, the basketball teams from Laconia High School and St. Mary's Springs Academy, the schools the boys attended, faced off in a game. However, the rivalry was put aside as the teams and the crowd united in a moment of silence to remember the lives of Nevins and Tommy. The community's support extended beyond the game, with multiple GoFundMe campaigns raising money for the families to cover funeral expenses.

The Fond du Lac community's unity and generosity were evident in the wake of the tragedy. At a Laconia Spartans home game, a table was set up with donation boxes and helpers passing out stickers and bracelets honoring the two boys. The community's desire to help the families was immediate, with many parents reaching out to offer support. The school communities also played a vital role in helping students and community members grieve, with altered schedules, trained counselors, therapy dogs, and additional mental health resources made available.

The impact of the tragedy was felt across the Fond du Lac area, with students from multiple schools, including Fond du Lac High School, coming together to show their support. The unity and compassion displayed by the community provided comfort and assistance to the grieving families and helped the community stand together during a difficult time. The tragedy also highlighted the importance of road safety and the need for improvements to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The crash occurred when the speeding car hit a tree, killing two and injuring one

On January 21, 2023, a speeding car crashed into a tree in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, killing two 16-year-old boys and injuring a 16-year-old girl. The single-car accident occurred around 3 a.m. on Saturday when the vehicle lost control and struck a tree. The two boys, Nevins Zoch and Tommy Koenigs, were best friends who attended different schools in the county. Zoch was pronounced dead at the scene, while Koenigs succumbed to his injuries later in the hospital. The girl, Gillian Schwartz, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The tragedy brought together two school communities in mourning, with basketball teams from Laconia High School and St. Mary's Springs Academy uniting for a game to honour the boys' memories. The community also rallied around the families of the victims, with multiple GoFundMe campaigns raising money for funeral expenses.

A 27-year-old woman, Sanju Paudel, was formally charged in connection with the crash. She was accused of providing alcohol to minors, as it was discovered that the teens had been drinking at an underage party before the accident. Paudel, a clerk at a gas station, sold beer and rum to the teens without checking their identification. The criminal complaint revealed that the teens' vehicle was speeding, with one of the survivors stating that they heard the driver claim they were going 100 miles per hour.

While the Fond du Lac community grieved the loss of two young lives, the incident also sparked conversations about the responsibility of adults in protecting children and the dangers of underage drinking and speeding. This tragic accident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from reckless behaviour.

The clerk at the gas station, Sanju Paudel, was charged for selling alcohol to the teens without ID

In January 2024, a tragic car accident in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, claimed the lives of two 16-year-old boys, Nevins Zoch and Tommy Koenigs, and injured a 16-year-old girl, Gillian Schwartz. The single-car crash occurred when the vehicle lost control and collided with a tree.

In connection with this accident, Sanju Paudel, a 27-year-old clerk at a gas station in Fond du Lac, was charged with selling alcohol to the teens without checking their identification. Paudel was accused of selling beer and rum to the underage drinkers, who were at a party before the crash. Surveillance video from the Shell gas station on Fond du Lac Avenue showed that Koenigs purchased the alcohol without being asked for any identification by Paudel.

As a result of her actions, Paudel was charged with two counts of providing alcohol to a minor resulting in death. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The judge set her bond at $25,000 cash and imposed several conditions, including surrendering her passport, staying within the state, abstaining from alcohol, and refraining from working in establishments that sell certain controlled products.

The Fond du Lac County Judge, Laura Lavey, emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the responsibility of adults to protect children, especially when alcohol is involved. This incident highlights the importance of upholding age restrictions for alcohol purchases and the potential consequences of failing to do so.

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