Date:               May 23, 2024
Case:              2024-17293
Authority:     Lieutenant Ryan Herman

On Thursday, May 23rd at approximately 11:07am, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received information of a white Ford car traveling south on Interstate 41 at speeds exceeding 100mph and passing other vehicles on the shoulder. This information was provided to Sheriff’s deputies; however, no deputy was on Interstate 41 in the immediate area to intervene.

Eight minutes later at 11:15am, the communications center received numerous calls of a multi-vehicle crash on STH 164 near Pioneer Road in the Village of Richfield, with injury. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and Troopers from Wisconsin State Patrol were dispatched. Richfield Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene. On Sheriff’s Office arrival, multiple vehicles with significant damage were observed just south of Pioneer Road. The operators of the three involved vehicles were accessed, with no significant injury found. Richfield Rescue took over further patient assessment, transporting the at- fault male operator from the scene.

Crash investigation determined the white Ford car that was reported to the communications center as driving erratic on Interstate 41, was the at fault vehicle in the STH 164 crash. The southbound Ford vehicle, driven by a 36 YOA Mayville resident, went left of center and struck a northbound GMC truck, driven by a 54 YOA Richfield resident. This initial collision ripped off the front tire of the GMC truck, resulting in the tire striking another southbound vehicle, driven by a 74 YOA Richfield resident. Alcohol appears to be a factor in causing the left of center operation from the Ford car. The operator was arrested for OWI 5th offense and multiple other violations. The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the crash.

Wisconsin State Patrol closed a portion of STH 164 for approximately 1½ hours to assist with scene clean up.