Charges: Western Wisconsin woman was on social media before fatal crash

ELLSWORTH – A western Wisconsin woman is accused of chatting on Facebook before a crash that killed three children, including her daughter, in December 2013.

Thirty-four-year-old Kari Jo Milberg of Centuria faces three felony counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving.

Pierce County investigators say cellphone records show Milberg was sending and receiving Facebook chat messages just before the crash.

KARE-TV reports authorities believe driver inattention contributed to the crash near Prescott.

Milberg’s SUV collided with a truck after Milberg apparently lost control on a curve. Milberg’s 11-year-old daughter, Lydia, died at the scene. Milberg’s two 5-year-old nieces died at hospitals. Milberg was critically injured, and her 3-year-old son had minor injuries.

Online court records do not list a defense attorney.