The Wisconsin State Patrol has confirmed the identity of a second individual who tragically lost his life in a fiery collision on Interstate 39/90 near DeForest in the early hours of July 20.
Brady A. Heiling, 19, of Minnesota, has been identified as the driver of one of the vehicles involved in the devastating crash. According to officials, the incident occurred just after midnight and involved serious injuries, entrapment, and a vehicle fire.
Authorities say an SUV was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-39/90 when it collided head-on with another vehicle. The impact caused a massive fire, leaving one vehicle completely engulfed in flames. Heiling succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Days later, on July 24, the Wisconsin State Patrol named Noelia Martinez Avila, 30, of Portage, as the alleged wrong-way driver. She was taken into custody and is accused of driving under the influence at the time of the crash. Officials believe her actions led to the deaths of both Heiling and Hallie Helgeson, a Minnesota teenager who was previously identified as the first fatality in the collision.
The loss of Brady A. Heiling, a young man with his entire life ahead of him, has deeply impacted both his family and community in Minnesota. Loved ones describe Brady as a kind-hearted, driven individual with a bright future.
The investigation remains ongoing, as authorities work to piece together the full circumstances surrounding the crash. Charges against Martinez Avila are pending the results of that investigation.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired and reckless driving.
