Two-vehicle accident in Dunn County results in fatality

By Cara L. Dempski

TOWN OF WILSON — A 32-year-old Sarona, WI woman was killed and another person was seriously injured the morning of November 16 after the car she was driving collided head-on with pickup truck on State Highway 64.

Danica Smith was eastbound on Highway 64 when her Dodge Stratus crossed the centerline and collided with a westbound Ford truck driven by Steven Matthys, age 61 of Barron. The collision occurred at 8:39 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 64 and 630th Street in the Dunn County Town of Wilson.

Matthys was airlifted to Regions Medical Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. His current condition or extent of his injuries was not known at press time. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

A Dunn County deputy on scene stated the initial call indicated Smith’s vehicle contained a child car seat and there was concern a young child was also involved, but it was later determined Smith was the only person in the car at the time of the accident. Matthys was also the lone occupant of his vehicle.

The Dallas Ambulance was paged, but was only able to send a crew as the ambulance was already out on another call. The Colfax and Gold Cross ambulances were then called due to a need for extraction equipment to remove both Smith and Matthys from their vehicles.

A first responder crew from Sand Creek responded, in addition to the three ambulance crews. The Prairie Farm/Sheridan and Ridgeland/Wilson fire departments assisted at the scene, as did Dunn County First Responders.

The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol.