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Head-on crash leaves 1 dead, 7 injured

TOWN OF FOREST — The Memorial Day weekend turned tragic.

A head-on collision involving a truck and a car along Highway 64 in the Town of Forest late Saturday morning claimed the life of a Hayward woman and injured seven others including four from the Glenwood City area.

On Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 11:03 a.m., the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two vehicle crash on State Trunk Highway (STH) 64 about one-eighth of a mile west of 310th Street in the Town of Forest.

A preliminary investigation indicates that a 2010 Ford Fusion traveling westbound on STH 64 crossed the centerline and struck an eastbound 2010 Ford F-150 pick-up truck head-on. Both vehicles came to rest in the roadway.

The driver of the Ford Fusion, Ellen L. Gordon, 59 of Hayward, WI was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Croix County Medical Examiner. Gordon was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

A passenger in the Fusion, Sheila A. Barber, 49 of Couderay, WI was flown by Life Link Helicopter to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN with injuries.

There were six occupants in the Ford truck. The driver, Darren L. Smith, 46 of Glenwood City, WI was taken to Westfields Hospital in New Richmond for treatments of his injuries and was later released.

Passengers in the Ford truck were:

•JoAnn M. Smith, 55 of Glenwood City, WI was taken to Regions Hospital with injuries. She was not wearing a seat belt.
•Judith M. Coyer, 74, of Glenwood City, WI was taken to Westfields Hospital with injuries. Coyer was wearing a seat belt.
•Denise L. Smith, 51 of Glenwood City, WI was taken to Westfields Hospital with injuries. She was wearing a seat belt.
•William W. Wolff, 52 of Adrian, MO was taken to Regions Hospital with injuries. He was not wearing a seat belt.
•Deanna L. Wolff, 54 of Adrian, MO was taken to Regions Hospital with injuries. She was not wearing a seat belt.

State Highway 64, from State Road 128 and 310th Street, was closed for approximately four hours while deputies investigated the accident scene.

The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone that witnessed the crash to contact them at 715-386-4701.

The crash remains under investigation by the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Croix County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Gordon’s death was the fifth on St. Croix County roadways this year.

The Wisconsin State Patrol, Glenwood City Fire and EMS, New Richmond EMS, Baldwin EMS and Clear Lake EMS assisted at the scene.