Current Stories

Driver of crashed vehicle hides in basement

On October 6, 2019 at approximately 9:15 p.m. the Crawford County Sheriff's Department received a report of a one vehicle traffic crash. The caller stated the vehicle was driven back home on a flat tire. 
   Deputies responded and spoke with Catherine Stevenson age 58 who stated she was the driver of a 2007 Toyota Camry on STH 131 near CTH X when she was forced off the road by another vehicle causing her to crash, she also stated the other vehicle didn’t stop.  Stevenson also stated her daughter Cheyenne Stevenson age 20 was the passenger.  
   During the accident investigation deputies determined that a Charles Towsley age 22 of Lone Rock was the actual driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident and that both Stevenson’s had lied to officers to help out Towsley.  Towsley was later found at the Stevenson residence hiding in the basement.  Towsley was arrested and charged with OWI 1st, Operating after revocation, Resisting arrest and he was placed on a Felony Probation Hold.    
   Cheyenne Stevenson was placed under arrest for Resisting and Obstructing an Officer for her part in assisting Towsley in avoiding apprehension and issued a citation for falsifying an accident report.
   Catherine Stevenson was issued citations for falsifying an accident report and Resisting and Obstructing an Officer.
   Through continued investigation it was found that on October 5 2019, the 2007 Toyota Camry was operated by Towsley. The vehicle was negotiating a sharp corner and lost control on West Point Rd, in the Utica Township. The vehicle struck some farm equipment and a fence near the road way. This crash occurred between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. The farm owner was contacted and informed of the damage. Further citations and charges maybe pending as a result.  

Suspect flees on foot - arrested two days later

Hillsboro, WI - Sept. 23, 2019 - Chief Patrick Clark of the Hillsboro Police Department reports that on September 18, 2019 at approximately 9:30 PM, a City of Hillsboro officer attempted to perform a traffic stop on a maroon 1995 Chevrolet K1500.
   The initial reason for the stop was following too closely, unreasonable and imprudent speed, and failing to stop at a stop sign. A short pursuit ensued which ended when the Chevrolet left the roadway at the intersection of Harrison St and Spring St. The driver of the vehicle fled on foot from the crash.
   A suspect was identified through personal effects located within the vehicle and statements from multiple witnesses who observed a male party matching the description of the suspect being on foot in the City of Hillsboro between the time of the crash and approximately 4:30 AM the following morning.
   After an investigation, the police department was able to determine the driver of the vehicle to be Casey P Gardner of Wonewoc. Gardner was arrested on September 20, 2019 and booked into the detention center on charges of felony fleeing an officer. Gardner also received multiple traffic citations for violations made during the pursuit. Assisting the Hillsboro Police Department were the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, Vernon County K9 Myk, and the Wonewoc Police Department.

School bus, a semi & several cars crash in fog,
children not injured

On 9/16/19 at 07:22am, the Richland County Sheriffs Department received a report of a 4 to 5 vehicle crash on Hwy 80N at McDougal Ln.  Reports indicated a school bus, a semi and several cars were involved. It was extremely foggy at the time of the crash.
   Sheriff’s Deputies, Richland Center Fire & Richland County EMS responded.  According to the investigation by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, 3 vehicles were stopped in the NB lane of Hwy 80 at McDougal Ln for a school bus in the process of picking up student’s that had its red lights flashing.  A semi tanker truck, operated by 32 year old Gary W. Olson of Sparta, was NB on Hwy 80 when he stated he did not see the flashing reds lights on the bus or the vehicles stopped in the roadway due to the dense fog. 
   As Olson approached the area, he applied the brakes and attempted to steer the semi into the gravel on the right side of the roadway.  This caused the semi’s trailer to slide sideways to the left. The semi trailer collided with the rear of a 2018 Jeep Compass operated by 81 year old Everett A Crine of Cazenovia. 
   The impact pushed the Crine vehicle forward where it struck the rear of a 2014 Chrysler minivan operated by Barbara J. Olson, age 48 of Richland Center.  The Crine vehicle continued forward, striking a third vehicle, a 2012 Chevrolet Impala operated by Kristin Kauffman of Richland Center.  The Olson and Crine vehicles suffered extensive damage and were towed from the scene. 
   Everett Crine was injured and transported to the Richland Hospital by Richland County EMS.  He was later transferred to a La Crosse hospital.  His condition is not known at this time.  The school bus, owned by Kubbussen Bus Service was not directly involved in the crash and none of the students on board were injured.
   Gary Olson was cited for driving too fast for conditions and for failure to wear a seatbelt.

Group of motorcycles hit oil spill - injuries

On September 1, 2019, at 9:50 a.m. the Vernon County 911 Dispatch Center was notified of a motorcycle crash on County Road Y near Avalanche, WI in the town of Webster. 
   Christopher Clemens, age 42, of Viroqua, WI was eastbound with a group of motorcycles.  Jon Montgomery, age 39, of Viroqua was operating a motorcycle just ahead of Clemens. 
   The group of motorcycles entered  into a sharp corner a where a prior oil spill had occurred.  Montgomery's motorcycle lost control on the oil spill.  Clemens who was trying to avoid hitting Montgomery also hit the oil spill and lost control.  Both motorcycles went into the ditch and came to rest.  Both operators were wearing helmets and riding gear.
   Clemens sustained a possible head injury and was transported to Vernon Memorial Hospital.   The crash remains under investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff's Department.

Viroqua man injured in crash - found next morning

Viroqua Township, WI - A single vehicle accident on County Road SS near Cook Hill Road, in the Viroqua Township. In the early morning hours of August 25, 2019, a vehicle driven by Evin Engen age 23, of rural Viroqua was traveling west on County Road SS when he lost control of his vehicle. 
   He crossed the east bound lane, traveled over an embankment, striking a fence, traveling a short distance through a field, eventually striking a tree. The vehicle came to rest against a tree in a private driveway. The accident was not found until approximately 8:20 A.M.by a pedestrian. 
   Evin Engen was seriously injured as a result of the accident and was flown by Gundersen Air to Gundersen Health in LaCrosse, WI.   The accident remains under investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office.

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