RURAL BLACK HAWK COUNTY – A 14-year-old girl died in an auto crash just outside Waterloo, and a fundraiser for the family is aimed at easing expenses.
On February 25, 2025, at 7:13 AM, Black Hawk county deputies responded to a two-vehicle accident in the 8000 block of Poyner Road, south of Waterloo, involving a Jeep Cherokee and a Pontiac Sunfire.
Upon arrival, the Jeep was fully engulfed in flames and the driver, 22-year-old Kelsey Murphy of La Porte City, Iowa, had exited. The driver of the Sunfire, a 14-year-old female, was trapped inside. The driver of the Jeep was transported by ambulance with minor non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Sunfire sustained critical injuries and was transported to MercyOne Waterloo where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
The teen was later identified as Kelli E. Schmitz of Jesup, Iowa. According to an obituary from Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service, she was a cheerleader, “But she was so much more than that. She had a tremendous love for her entire family and her loss leaves a hole in all of their lives. Her classmates and friends attest to her kindness and generosity. She had a unique ability to uplift and inspire others. Kelli was deeply involved in school activities, requiring boundless energy and skilled juggling of her schedule. Her love of sports showed brightly as she played volleyball and participated in archery. She was a football cheerleader, and most notably, Kelli’s incredible school spirit stood out through her role as the lone cheerleader for both girls’ and boys’ basketball teams. The week of her death, she was to cheer her brother and his teammates in their district basketball game and compete in a state archery competition.”
To support this family, visit the fundraiser page, here.
The cause of this accident remains under investigation.
The Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office was assisted by Gilbertville first responders, Evansdale Fire & Ambulance, Iowa State Patrol, MercyOne Ambulance, and Aircare.