Illinois Girl, 6, Dies In Tragic Sledding Accident

GALENA, IL — A Sangamon County family is mourning the loss of a 6-year-old girl killed in a sledding accident in Galena earlier this week. Karly Pearce, daughter of Chatham Police Officer Ryan Pearce and wife Kim Pearce, died Tuesday at Rockford Mercyhealth Hospital.

The Chatham community is now rallying around the family with a GoFundMe campaign for Karly, who loved Barbie, swimming, dancing and the Chicago Cubs. "Karly was a first grader at Glenwood Elementary School. Her smile truly lit up any room she was in," according to the campaign.

Officials said the girl's sled struck a tree Monday at Chestnut Mountain in Galena, according to WAND. She was pronounced dead at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The Chatham Police Department shared its condolences to the Pearce family on Facebook.

"On 1/23/18, Heaven gained a little angel," police said. "Some of you reading this may know Karly's father, Officer Ryan Pearce. Ryan was hired at Chatham PD in 2009. Ryan is extremely dedicated to this job and this community, and the sudden loss of his daughter has devastated him, his family, and the rest of the Chatham Police Department. We are all grieving for them."

The post urges community members to make donations at United Community Bank in Chatham or via GoFundMe, adding, "no gift is too big or too small," and said all donations will help the family with medical and funeral expenses:

We believe that it is time that our community takes care of Officer Pearce and his own family in their own time of need. It is time to unleash the outpouring of compassion and support that I have seen this community is capable of when it has come together in dealing with other tragedies that have occurred here in the last few years. I would love to see this community put the Pearce family on their backs and prop them up when they need it the most.

Karly is survived by her parents and 4-year-old little sister Reagan.

Image via GoFundMe