WAUPACA COUNTY, WI – A Wisconsin family is mourning the loss of four siblings who were killed by an alleged drunk driver. The deadly crash took place just days before Christmas. The incident occurred when 47-year-old Scott Farmer reportedly drove his pick-up truck the wrong way on a Waupaca County highway and collided head-on with an SUV carrying the Gonzalez siblings.
The victims were identified as driver Daniel Gonzalez, 25, his brother Fabian Gonzalez, 23, and their younger sisters, Lilian Gonzalez, 14, and Daniela Gonzalez, 9. The family reported to WLUK that the siblings were returning home from an outing and were merely three miles from home when the incident happened.
Upon arrival at the crash scene, Waupaca County Capt. Todd G. Rasmussen reported that all the victims were beyond saving and were pronounced dead at the scene. Shelby Strahl, a witness, described the incident as “heart wrenching” upon discovering that the victims were siblings.
Investigators found an open vodka bottle next to Farmer and noted his impaired speech and behavior post-crash. This incident isn’t Farmer’s first run-in with drunk driving laws, as he already had four prior convictions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Farmer is now facing four charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, and he is currently in custody as a result.
Despite these charges, Farmer’s bail was set at $750,000 – an amount the siblings’ stepfather, Kurt Schilling, and cousin, Luis Gonzalez-Quizhpe, considered unjust given the severity and impact of the incident. Further, the Gonzalez family continues to face heartbreak as they plan for a funeral in Wisconsin and subsequent burials in Ecuador.
Various GoFundMe campaigns have been set up to assist the Gonzalez family with the funeral expenses, amassing more than $132,000 collectively so far.