Ten-year old Cassy Maurer of Becker, who was seriously injured when a pick-up truck collided with the mini van driven by her father, Chuck, was driving was T-boned on Hwy. 10 July 26 passed away last Friday.

 

Chuck and Cassy were airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center but it was too late. Chuck was pronounced dead at 9 p.m. that evening. Cassy clung to life desperately but even after major surgery, the pressure on her brain was too great.

 

Last week, the family was informed Cassy had no brain waves. The difficult decision was made to take her off life support. Her date of death is listed as July 31. Her mother, Nita decided to let Cassy’s organ’s be donated to help other people and the process for tissue donation was started.

 

There was a flag-raising ceremony Sunday afternoon at North Memorial and the flag was flown in Cassy’s honor until after the organ donation surgery was complete.

 

With family members there to say their last farewells and hold her hand, Cassy went into surgery in the early hours of Monday morning.

 

A preliminary list of recipients included  two 14 year-old-boys, a nine year-old-boy, a one-year-old girl, a nine-year-old girl, a two-yr-old girl, and a 52-yr-old man, who will all receive life-changing gifts from Cassy.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Marcus Catholic Church  in Clear Lake Friday morning. Rev. Virgil Helmin officiated. Cassy was buried at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls by her father. 

 

Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to the services Friday at the church in Clear Lake. Arrangements were entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Clear Lake.

 

Cassy was born Sept. 6, 2004, in Monticello. She lived in Becker and would have been a fifth grader in the Becker School District this year. 

 

Cassy was a mass server at St. Marcus. She enjoyed playing cribbage, biking, fishing and games like minecraft and unicorn on her iPad. She was known for her sense of humor and love of jokes. Most of all she loved to spend time with her family.

 

Cassy is survived by her mother, Teodora of Becker; brother and sister, Patrick of Big Lake and Alenita of Becker; grandparents, Guadencio and Anatalia Mapait of the Philippines, and Connie Maurer of Coon Rapids; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. 

 

Maurer was  travelling north on Co. Rd. 11 on his way home when the pickup truck, believed to be driven by 18-year-old Deven Garlock of Little Falls, travelling east-bound, ran the red light at the intersection at the intersection of Co. Rd. 11 and Hwy. 10.

 

Also injured in the crash were  his daughter, 15-year-old Alenita Maurer, who had injuries that were not life threatening. Their 15-year-old friend Alora Nelson also sustained non-life threatening injuries in the crash. They were taken to St. Cloud Hospital by ambulance and released the next day.

 

Garlock suffered a non-life threatening injury and was transported to St. Cloud Hospital. Carlee Bollig, 17, a  passenger in the pickup, was seriously injured. She was also transported to St. Cloud Hospital.

 

Two other passengers in the pickup,  18-year-old George Saldana  and 16-year-old Caysi Jaronske of Little Falls suffered injuries that were not considered life threatening. They were transported to CentraCare health Monticello Hospital.

 

The State Patrol says Deven Garlock was the driver who ran the red light and broadsided Maurer but Garlock says he was just a passenger.

 

The teens gave conflicting statements to officers after the incident. Garlock says they were driving to Jordan on Hwy. 10 to visit a relative and were traveling 60 to 65 miles per hour at the time of the crash. He doesn't believe anyone braked before the impact.

 

“I didn't see him, and next thing you know, we T-boned him,” Garlock said. “As soon as we hit him, I looked right where we hit him, and I figured it wasn't good.”

 

All the occupants of both vehicles were wearing seat belts, the State Patrol reports. The accident is under investigation, however State Patrol Lt. Paul Van Voorhis says it could take 60-90 days  to determine if charges will be filed. Hwy. 10 was closed for four hours. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in this incident.

 

Maurer, known as Chuck to his family and friends, was a Big Lake High School graduate, an Army veteran and father of three. He recently quit his job at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts due to a heart condition.

 

He was feeling better than he had in months following heart-valve replacement surgery and being installed with a pacemaker, his family said. 

 

St. Marcus Church in Clear Lake is hosting a benefit for the Maurer family, set for Sun., Aug. 23 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. A dinner will be served, along with a silent auction and kids activities. A free will offering will also be held.

 

Persons wishing to donate items to the auction may fax to Melissa at 1-320-743-2481. (See further details in ad to appear in next week’s newspaper.)

 

A second benefit is being planned for Oct. 3 at Tootsie’s Tavern in Big Lake to raise money to help Chuck's surviving children, Patrick and Alenita, cover expenses. 

 

The benefit will start at 5pm and will included drawings, auctions, and more. Live music provided by DiBZ will follow starting at 9 p.m.

 

Donations can be dropped off at Safe Discount Bait, Tackle and Liquor on the corner of Co. Rd. 11 and Hwy. 10, 16484 149th St SE, Big Lake or arrange for pick up by emailing jsmith42883@gmail.com

 

Family friend Justin Hattesohl has also set up a GoFundMe page to help the family.