One dead, three injured in Highway 12 crash near Menomonie
By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — One person died and three people were injured Friday evening in a three-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 12 near 429th Street in the Town of Menomonie.
The Dunn County E-911 Center received a report of a two-car crash on Highway 12 at around 5:16 p.m. December 23 with reported road blockage and personal injury, according to a news release issued by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department.
Ronnie Imboden, age 70, of Knapp, died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Joseph Broker and Lori Broker, both of Colfax, were transported to Mayo-Menomonie by ambulance with unknown injuries.
Jennifer Thatcher of Wilson was transported by private vehicle to Mayo-Menomonie.
Snow had started falling in the area around noon Friday, and by late afternoon, roads were snow covered and slippery.
According to the news release, when deputies arrived at the scene of the accident, they found three vehicles had been involved in the crash.
The accident happened north of Fleet Farm on Highway 12 at 429th Street, near the Bobolink Nursery.
A 2013 Kia Soul operated by a 56-year-old man from Colfax had been traveling east on Highway 12 when it collided with a westbound 2004 Chevy Venture Van operated by the 70-year-old man from Knapp.
The driver of the van was ejected, and then the two vehicles were struck by an eastbound 2011 Chevrolet Colorado driven by a 43-year-old woman from Wilson. The pickup truck came to rest on top of the man who had been ejected from the van, according to the news release.
Imboden, the driver of the van, was extricated from beneath the pickup truck and transported to Mayo-Eau Claire.
The Dunn County Sheriff’s Department received notification Saturday, December 24, that Imboden had died from his injuries.
According to the sheriff’s department news release, road conditions due to the adverse weather on Friday were a factor in the crash.
The accident remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol.
