Driver Who Allegedly Killed 3 Girl Scouts Was ‘Huffing’ Chemicals, Police Say

A Wisconsin man who killed three Girl Scouts and an adult in a hit-and-run accident admitted to “huffing” chemicals to get high at the time of the accident.

Colten R. Treu, 21, struck and killed the four while they were picking up garbage on the side of the highway on Nov. 3. Another Girl Scout was injured and hospitalized.

It’s not clear what chemical vapors he had been inhaling.

Jayna S. Kelley, 9; Autumn A. Helgeson, 10; Haylee J. Hickle, 10; and her mother, Sara Jo Schneider, 32; died in the incident, the Leader-Telegram reported.

Treu turned himself into police in Chippewa Falls later on Nov. 3. He was previously identified as the suspect, and officers discovered that his truck was abandoned before he turned himself in.

Emergency medical personnel gather at the scene of a hit-and-run accident that killed three girls and an adult in Lake Hallie, Wis. on Nov. 3, 2018. (Steve Kinderman/The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram via AP)

An unidentified passenger who was riding with Treu also turned himself in.

“The passenger in the truck turned himself into the City of Eau Claire Police at 3:54 p.m. on the same day. Both subjects gave statements to police which included that they had been intentionally inhaling chemical vapors which is commonly called ‘huffing,’ just prior to the accident,” police said in a news release published by WEAU-TV.

Treu is being held on four counts of homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle, five counts of hit and run, and other counts, Lake Hallie Police Chief Cal D. Smokowicz told NBC News.

Police said: “This investigation is far from over and any persons who may have witnessed this accident are encouraged to contact the Lake Hallie Police Department. Our department greatly appreciated the assistance that it has received from neighboring jurisdiction on this terrible crash.”

“This is a horrible reminder of our nation’s epidemic of self-indulging with substance abuse without regard of the consequences. Words cannot describe our Lake Hallie community’s sorrow for the witnesses, victims, and their families. This senseless crash was completely avoidable,” the department said.

The most commonly abused inhalants are volatile solvents such as “paint thinner, gasoline, felt-tip markers, nail polish remover, glue,” as well as “spray paint, deodorant, and hair-care products,” MedicineNet noted. Gases such as nitrous oxide are also commonly huffed. In recent years, the huffing of compressed air dusters has become commonplace in the United States.

“Because huffing is a less well-known substance abuse problem, the best forms of treatment have not been well-publicized. Huffing is addictive and may require the abuser to go through a period of medically-supervised withdrawal when trying to quit. According to the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, detoxification may require up to thirty or forty days,” said the Sober Living treatment program on its website.