ZUMBROTA – A Sunday night drive ended in tragedy when 16-year-old Carley Howard of Pine Island was killed after her car left the roadway and struck a tree on Goodhue County Road 1, just west of Wanamingo.
The Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened around 9:45 p.m. Deputies found Carley’s 2009 Honda Civic wrapped around a large oak. She was pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved.
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Investigators believe speed and icy patches on the rural road may have contributed. The crash remains under investigation.
By Monday morning, the entrance to Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School was blanketed with flowers, photos, and Carley’s #24 volleyball jersey. Classmates gathered in tears as counselors opened the auditorium for anyone needing support.
Carley, a junior who split her time between Zumbrota-Mazeppa and Pine Island schools, was a standout on the volleyball and softball teams, an active member of FFA, and a regular volunteer at the Pine Island Food Shelf. Friends say she was the teammate who always remembered your birthday and the first to offer a ride home.
“She made everyone feel like they belonged,” said volleyball coach Emily Johnson. “She’d spot a kid sitting alone at lunch and just sit down like it was the most natural thing in the world.”
Hundreds gathered Monday evening at the crash site for a candlelight vigil. Someone placed a volleyball signed by the entire team at the base of the tree.
A GoFundMe titled “Carley’s Light” has raised over $85,000 in 24 hours to help with funeral costs and to establish a scholarship for Z-M/Pine Island student-athletes who “lead with kindness.”
Services are set for Friday, December 5 at 11 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Zumbrota. The family asks everyone to wear purple or Carley’s favorite teal.
“Keep her smile alive,” her mom wrote online. “That’s how we’ll get through this.”
Two small towns. One huge hole in their hearts.
Rest easy, Carley. The court won’t feel the same without you. 🕊️💜 #CarleyStrong