ONE VEHICLE CRASH
On December 18, 2022 at 2:00 A.M., Brandon Chase, age 25 of Fennimore, was driving his 2015 Chrysler 200 north on Cth D in Lima
Township. Chase drove across both lanes of traffic while negotiating a curve in the road. Chase entered the west ditch, struck a fence and the
vehicle came to a rest in a snow bank. Chase and his passenger, Hunter Blotz, 26 of Fennimore, were sleeping in the vehicle when the
incident was reported at 7:20 A.M. The Chase vehicle received minor damage when it struck a fence. The vehicle was removed by SOS
Towing. No injures were reported and both occupants were wearing seat belts. Chase was cited for Operating Left of Center.
Passenger in two crashes within an hour
On 12/19/22, Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a single vehicle crash on Church Rd, in Paris Township. A 2006 Chevy
Silverado owned and operated by Brayden Thumser, 18, of Hazel Green, was traveling on Church Rd and failed to negotiate a corner, struck
a fence and rolled. Brayden was transported by Dickeyville EMS due to suspected minor injuries. Passenger, Trent Pickel, 18, of Kieler, was
not injured and was picked up at the scene by a friend.
Minutes later, the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a second crash just north of the first crash. A deputy responded to Stanton Rd, near North
Rd. A 2003 Chevy Silverado, operated by Logan Gallagher, 18, of Cuba City, failed to negotiate a corner and went through a fence and
dropped 8 feet into a culvert. Neither Logan or passenger, Trent Pickel, 18, of Kieler, were injured.
Crash investigation determined snow covered roads and traveling too fast for conditions were factors in both crashes.
Dickeyville EMS, Fire Department and Donnies Tire and Tow assisted at the scenes.
Vehicle vs Traffic Sign
On 12/22/2022, at approximately 2:27 p.m., The Grant County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a one vehicle crash on Highway 151 near mile
marker 1. After a brief investigation it was determined that Brena Louis, 21, of Janesville, WI was traveling south on Highway 151, in the
Township of Jamestown, in a 2008 Saab, when she lost control of the vehicle due to the slick road conditions. The vehicle ended up entering
the median sideways and striking a No U-Turn Sign before stopping facing north in the median. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was
tagged and was going to remain in the median until the weather conditions improved enough for the vehicle to be removed.
Semi vs Car Crash
On December 23, 2022 at approximately 9:35am the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a semi vs car crash on Hwy 11 just
north of Louisburg Rd located in the Township of Hazel Green.
Randy Wiegman, age 55 from rural Hazel Green, was traveling southbound on Hwy 11 in his 2009 Pontiac G6. At the same time Christopher
Anderson, age 45 from Brandon, WI was traveling northbound in his company’s 2020 Volvo Semi pulling a 53-foot box trailer. Due to whiteout
conditions and snow drifts Wiegman’s vehicle lost control and started to spin in the roadway. Anderson did his best to avoid hitting Wiegman
head on as he veered into the east ditch line.
Though the head on collision was avoided, Wiegman’s vehicle spun into the rear tires on the box trailer on the driver’s side of the semi.
Wiegman’s vehicle sustained heavy front and rear end damages. The semi sustained no damages but the axles on the trailer both sustained
disabling damages. Wiegman was wearing his seatbelt. Wiegman was transported to Mercy in Dubuque due to his injuries. Anderson was not
injured in the crash. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Hazel Green Fire Department, Hazel Green EMS, and the Grant County Highway
Department. Wiegman’s vehicle was removed from the scene by Donnies Tire and Tow of Dickeyville and Anderson’s trailer was removed
from the scene by Guy’s Truck and Tractor of Kieler. The speed Wiegman was traveling is suspected to be a factor in the crash and the matter
is still under investigation.
Car vs. Bridge Crash
On Dec. 23, 2022 at 4:59 PM the Grant County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of a one vehicle crash in the area of County
Road A and Grays Mill Road. Around 4:45 PM Lilly Knapp, age 16 of Lancaster, was operating a 2009 Silver Dodge Journey westbound on County Road A and failed to
negotiate the curve in the roadway on the ice and snow covered roadway, crossing the center line, and striking the railing of the bridge, on the
south side of the roadway, with the front of her vehicle. The vehicle was disabled at the scene and was removed by Bennett’s Automotive of
Lancaster. No injuries were reported as a result of the crash. Paint transfer from the vehicle onto the railing of the bridge. No visible signs of
damage to the bridge railing.
Vehicle vs Snow Drift
On Saturday 24 December 2022 at approximately 0930 am, Joseph J Jeardeau (22) of Fennimore was driving west on Shortcut Road in his
2019 Chevrolet Impala when he struck a snow drift. The collision caused moderate damage to the vehicle. Jeardeau was not injured in the
crash and was able to drive the vehicle from the scene.
Minor Two Car Sideswipe
On December 26, 2022 at 10:23 AM the Grant County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a two vehicle minor crash on Hwy 35/61, about two
miles north of Dickeyville, WI. The investigating deputy learned that Loretta Perry, 56, of rural Potosi, was driving her 2011 GMC Acadia south
on Hwy 35/61, south of the Platte River bridge, in the area where there is a passing lane for the southbound traffic. Shawn Viner, 36, of De
Soto, WI was driving his 2021 Chevrolet Silverado coming up behind Perry. An uninvolved witness vehicle was directly behind Perry’s vehicle.
Perry told the deputy she wanted to remain in the left lane due to the road conditions in the right lane. She said that she saw a vehicle
approach behind her (the witness) and she chose to start merging to the right due to the vehicle behind her. Viner, coming up behind the
witness vehicle and Perry’s vehicle, chose to merge to the right lane to pass both the witness and Perry. Perry had initially told the deputy she
was traveling about 35 MPH. She later told the deputy she was going about 40-45 MPH. She said she looked over her shoulder and did not
see any vehicles on her right so she started to merge to that lane. As she did so, she heard someone honk. She believed it was the car behind
her. Viner told the deputy that he had honked as Perry was merging into him as he was passing her vehicle on the right. The right front fender
and mirror of Perry’s vehicle struck the left front fender of Viner’s truck. The witness told the deputy that he saw the truck coming up behind him and felt that the truck (Viner’s) was going too fast for conditions. The witness told the deputy that he and Perry’s car were going about 35 MPH. The witness told the deputy that Viner’s truck pulled out from close
behind him to pass both he and Perry’s car. The witness commented that he felt there was no way that Perry would have been able to see
Viner’s truck when he pulled out to pass as the truck was following him closely when it pulled out. Perry and the witness are acquainted with each other.
The two vehicles stopped in Dickeyville at a gas station to complete the report with the deputy. The witness had called Perry to say he witnessed it and then called the deputy to give a statement.
The damage to both Perry’s and Viner’s vehicles was minor. The crash remains under investigation.