Young Girl Killed in Accident on Icy Roadways

The icy roadways in Lynden, Washington played a part in a two-vehicle accident on the Nooksack River Bridge Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of a young girl.

Nancy Vekved, 45, was driving her Mercury Villager northbound on Hannegan Road when the vehicle spun out of control on the bridge and landed in the path of a southbound Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Dean Lenssen, 33, of Lynden. The pickup truck struck the van on the passenger-side door, said Trooper Keith Leary of the Washington State Patrol.

Emergency responders found Rachel Vekved, 7, unconscious at the scene and attempted CPR on her, Leary said. She was transported to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Her sister, Annie Vekved, 7, and mother, were also taken to St. Joseph Hospital but had no injuries. Lenssen was uninjured in the accident as well.

The road was closed to traffic for several hours as units from Lynden, North Whatcom Fire and Rescue and Bellingham responded to the accident.

It is believed that the poor weather conditions of snow and ice were the main cause of the accident and there will be no criminal charges.