Current Stories

Throwing a beer can out the window was the only
thing this driver wasn't charged with

On July 10, 2019 at approximately 8:00pm the Crawford County Communications Center received information from the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office about a traffic complaint they received about a 1995 Ford Thunderbird traveling southbound on State Highway 35 in the Desoto area. The caller stated the vehicle was driving all over the road and that a beer can was thrown out the window. A deputy of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office began responding to the area.
   At approximately 8:15pm the Crawford County Communications Center received a report that the aforementioned vehicle had crashed on State Highway 35, just south of Carter Way Road, in the Township of Seneca. The responding deputy located a male subject, later identified as Ronald L. White Jr., 44, of La Crosse, WI walking approximately one-quarter of a mile south of the crash scene. The deputy made contact with White and asked if he was involved in a crash. White denied being involved in a traffic crash. However, the deputy observed White bleeding from his arm and detained him for the investigation.
   The crash investigation determined the Ford Thunderbird was traveling southbound on State Highway 35 when it drove into the shoulder of the southbound lane then over-corrected, causing the vehicle to make an abrupt left turn into the northbound lane of traffic and then into a concrete barrier along the northbound lane. Following the impact with the concrete barrier, the vehicle struck the guardrail along the southbound lane before coming to rest facing north.
   On scene, the deputy made contact with Danny R. Hall, 52, of La Crosse, WI. Hall stated he was a passenger in the vehicle and that White was the driver. Two witnesses on scene also stated White was the driver. White admitted to drug use and drinking alcoholic beverages prior to the crash. A marijuana smoking device and a small amount of marijuana was found on his person. White was transported to Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI for further medical evaluation where he was charged with 3rd offense operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a restricted controlled substance. White remained in the medical care of Gundersen Lutheran throughout the night. The following morning, at 8:42am, White was discharged from the hospital then taken into custody and transported to the Crawford County Jail for booking procedures.
   White was charged with 3rd offense operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a restricted controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also issued citations for no insurance, reckless driving, operating left of center and obstructing an officer.
   Assisting on scene was Tri-State EMS, Seneca First Responders, Seneca Fire Department and Milo’s Towing.

Male Falls Off Moving Vehicle

On June 29, 2019, at approximately 3:18 pm, Grant County Sheriff's Office responded to N Grand St near the intersection of W Sampson St., in Livingston for an injured male who had fallen from a moving vehicle.
   Isaac X Albaugh, age 17, of Linden, was operating a 1998 Jeep Wrangler northbound on N Grand St near W Sampson St when he lost control of the vehicle in the gravel. There were six total passengers in the vehicle, including Albaugh, a 15 year old female from Montfort, a 17 year old male from Livingston, a 16 year old female from Livingston, a 16 year old female from Platteville, and Dalton O Seyfferth, age 17, of Dodgeville.
   Seyfferth was not seated in the vehicle, but standing on the rear bumper of the vehicle and holding onto the roll bars, as the vehicle was in motion. Albaugh lost control of the vehicle and Seyfferth was unable to maintain grip and balance and fell off the rear of the vehicle, landing on the roadway.
   Seyfferth lost consciousness and suffered major injuries. The victim was transported to Upland Hills Health, Dodgeville, and air lifted to UW-Madison from there.  Assisting Grant County Sheriff's Office on scene was Livingston First Responders and Montfort EMS. This crash remains under investigation.

One vehicle crashes into two parked vehicles,
one residence bedroom and one garage.

On 26, June 2019 at approximately 11:40 p.m., the Grant County Sheriff's Office received multiple 911 calls of a vehicle crashing into a house.
   When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered James H. Steines (28 of Mt. Hope) had been traveling east on Canal Street in Bloomington in a 2008 Chevrolet Uplander Van (owned by Rachel M. Silvers, 30 of Boscobel). Steines crashed into a legally parked 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, leased by Karen M. Ploessl (47 of Bloomington.)
   The crash was at such a high rate of speed, it pushed the Malibu approximately 40 feet off
Canal Street into a legally parked 2005 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 owned by Robert F. Johnstone (54 of Bloomington). The Silverado received heavy damage and was pushed into a garage. Steines' vehicle crashed into a guardrail that had been installed to protect the residence. The residence, owned by Norbert C. Moore (82 of Bloomington), received heavy damage as a result of the guardrail being pushed through a bedroom wall where the occupants were sleeping.
   The Chevrolet Malibu and Chevrolet Uplander were totaled. Steines admitted to traveling between 75 and 80 mph in a 25 mph zone. Steines was arrested for operating a motor vehicle with a detectable amount of a controlled substance, possession of a prescription medication without a prescription, and cited for 75 mph in a 25 mph zone, failure to have control, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance. Assisting at the scene was the West Grant Rescue Squad, Bloomington Fire Department and B&M Towing of Bloomington.

Head-on collision results in multiple injuries

On June 19th, 2019 at 11:29am, the Vernon County 911 Dispatch Center took multiple 911 calls reporting a two vehicle head-on crash on US Highway 14, just west of Hellwig Ln. in the town of Hamburg. 
   66-year-old Denise G. Dearmond of Minneapolis, MN, was driving east when her 2009 Volkswagon Routan crossed the centerline entering the westbound lane.  Dearmond's vehicle collided head-on with a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by 27-year-old Shannon N. Larkin from rural Westby.
   Larkin, and her infant daughter were assisted out of the vehicle with assistance of bystanders.  Dearmond required extrication to free her from her vehicle.  Dearmond, Larkin, and the infant were all transported to Gundersen Health Systems in Lacrosse by Tri-State Ambulance, with non-life threatening injuries. 
   A family pet dog, belonging to the Larkins that was in the vehicle at the time of the crash and was seen at Coulee Mobile Vet Clinic and did not receive any injuries.  The westbound lane of US Highway 14 was closed for about an hour and a half.  The crash remains under investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff's Office. 
   Agencies assisting on the scene included the Coon Valley Police Department, Coon Valley Fire Department, Coon Calley First Responders, Shelby Fire Department, Shelby First Responders, and Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance.

Vehicle crosses centerline, crashes into mobile home

On June 18, 2019 at 6:29pm the Crawford County Communications Center received a report of a vehicle that crashed into a mobile home along County Road K at 32401 Lakeview Circle, in the township of Prairie du Chien.
   Dawn T. Albrecht, 54, of Prairie du Chien was operating a 1997 Ford Explorer SUV northbound on County Road K. While northbound, Albrecht completely crossed the southbound lane of traffic, then ran off the road and struck the end of a mobile home. The mobile home was owned by Jason S. Miller, 41, of Cedar Falls, IA.  The home was unoccupied at the time f the accident.  Albrecht was transported by Tri-State Regional EMS to Crossing Rivers Health for medical evaluation. The mobile home and vehicle both sustained severe damage.
Albrecht was issued citations for third offense operating while under the influence, operating left of center and possession of open intoxicants in motor vehicle.
Assisting on scene was the Bridgeport Fire Department, Bridgeport First Responders, Tri-State Regional EMS, Prairie du Chien Police Department and Milo’s Towing.

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