Sheriff: Girl Killed In Wisconsin Rollover Was Wearing Seat Belt

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities now say a teen girl killed when her vehicle rolled while attempting to avoid a suspected distracted driver was wearing her seat belt.

Kyra Hayes, 16, died in a rollover accident in Wisconsin Oct. 21. Witnesses say a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Makellia S. Jensen was weaving. When Hayes attempted to avoid Jensen's vehicle, she lost control of the vehicle and rolled several times. Hayes was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities initially said Hayes was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office said Friday black box and autopsy evidence indicates her seat belt was buckled.

Investigators believe Jensen was distracted at the time of the crash. Witnesses say Jensen had her hands off the wheel and was holding a cellphone. Jensen denies this.

"Not true, I wasn't on my phone at all," she said.

Hayes' family said Wednesday that evidence showed she was wearing a seat belt.