The Chisago County community is reeling from the absolutely devastating news of a fiery early-morning crash that has claimed the lives of two teenagers and left three others fighting for their lives. What started as a late-night drive turned into an unthinkable tragedy, shattering multiple families in an instant.
The fatal head-on collision occurred around 1:58 a.m. near the intersection of Stacy Trail and Ivywood Trail in Chisago City. When Lakes Area Police and the Chisago County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered two crumpled vehicles—a 2014 Toyota Camry and a 2000 Toyota 4Runner—with the five occupants, all teenagers, trapped inside.
The details are heartbreaking: the Toyota Camry was driven by an astonishingly young 14-year-old, with two 15-year-old passengers inside. One of those passengers, 15-year-old Jax Zarn, was pronounced dead right at the scene. The loss of Jax has sent a wave of shock and grief through the local area, especially as the community grapples with the sheer youth of everyone involved.
The impact of the crash was catastrophic for all five teens. The other two occupants of the Camry—the 14-year-old driver and a second 15-year-old passenger—sustained serious injuries, with one needing to be airlifted immediately to a trauma center. Tragically, the other vehicle involved also suffered an immense blow. The 17-year-old boy driving the 4Runner, who had an 18-year-old passenger, was airlifted for life-threatening injuries but later succumbed to them at the hospital. This means the total loss of life in this horrific incident is now two young boys.
Authorities have also reported a deeply concerning detail: alcohol was discovered at the crash scene and is being looked into as a potential contributing factor in the collision. It’s a sobering reminder of the very real, very dangerous risks involved when minors and young adults are operating vehicles under the influence, especially in the dead of night. The Minnesota State Patrol is now tasked with reconstructing the crash to determine exactly what went wrong.
As of the latest updates, the 18-year-old passenger in the 4Runner was also taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, along with the two injured occupants of the Camry. While official details on their current condition remain sparse, one mother, whose son was a passenger in the Camry, shared a touching plea for prayers online after rushing to the scene via a crash alert on a family safety app. She revealed her son is alive but has a head and spinal injury, bruised lungs, and multiple broken bones, and will require several surgeries.
The entire Chisago County community is now united in sorrow, mourning the loss of two bright futures and anxiously awaiting news on the three other teens fighting to recover from this senseless tragedy. This incident serves as a brutal wake-up call and a powerful reminder of how quickly youthful decisions can spiral into irreparable devastation. For now, the focus remains on supporting the shattered families and allowing law enforcement to complete their meticulous investigation into the final, tragic moments that led to this immense loss.