Woman dies in UTV accident
EAU GALLE TOWNSHIP – A utility terrain vehicle accident (UTV) in the Dunn County Township of Eau Galle Sunday evening, October 27 has claimed the life of a Dunn County woman.
Diane M. Noble, 55, of Menomonie, died of injuries suffered when the utility terrain vehicle she was a passenger in rolled over and trapped her underneath the vehicle.
Durand Emergency Services and Dunn County law enforcement were dispatched to the accident scene, near the intersection of County Road D and 293rd Street in Eau Galle Township, at approximately 7:20 p.m.
Noble, who had to be extricated from under the UTV, was transported by the Durand Ambulance Service to nearby Chippewa Valley Hospital in Durand where she was pronounced dead. According to a Dunn County Sheriff’s news release, Noble suffered extensive trauma to her head and neck in the accident.
The driver of the Polaris Ranger UTV, James A. Drier, 50, also of Menomonie sustained only minor injuries in the crash.
The Dunn County Sheriff’s investigation revealed that Drier appeared to be accelerating while trying to negotiate a turn which caused the UTV to roll onto the passenger side and trapped Noble.
The report did not state whether Noble or Drier were wearing helmets at the time of the accident or if the any supplemental restraint system was used.
The crash, which occurred on private property, is still under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office.
