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One dead in two-vehicle collision on Highway 79

By Cara L. Dempski

SHERMAN — One person died, and two more were injured, in a head-on collision on State Highway 79 south of Boyceville Monday afternoon.

The accident closed down the roadway for just over five hours in the Town of Sherman.

According to Boyceville Police Chief Greg Lamkin, emergency response personnel received the initial call of a two-vehicle accident with personal injury and one with no pulse and not breathing at 12:42 p.m. February 12.

Dunn County Sheriff’s Captain Kevin Bygd commented at the scene that it was still too early to know a lot of the details, but said members of the Wisconsin State Patrol were on the way to the scene for accident reconstruction.

Bygd’s initial estimate was the northbound vehicle, a Kia Sedona, crossed the centerline and struck the southbound Chevrolet sport-utility vehicle in the southbound lane. The female driver of the Chevrolet was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dunn County Medical Examiner at approximately 1:25 p.m.

The driver of the Kia van required extrication and was transported for medial care via Boyceville ambulance.

No further details were available at the scene, but responders present at the Boyceville Village Board meeting later that evening indicated the road did not open again until just before 6 p.m.

According to a press release issued by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, all three victims are residents of Boyceville.

The release also indicated responders arrived to discover the 54-year-old female driver of the southbound Chevrolet deceased, a fact later confirmed by the medical examiner.

The woman’s 19-year-old daughter was a passenger in the vehicle, and sustained non-life threatening injuries. She was transported to Mayo’s Red Cedar Medical Center in Menomonie via ambulance.

The driver of the Kia van, a 47-year-old man, was transported by ambulance to Mayo’s Luther Hospital in Eau Claire.

The release also confirmed Bygd’s assessment at the scene of the accident, that the northbound Kia crossed into the southbound lanes, striking the Chevrolet head-on.

Authorities suspect alcohol was a contributing factor for the driver of the Kia van.

The Wisconsin State Patrol continues to work on accident reconstruction, and criminal charges for the 47-year-old driver of the Kia will be determined by the Dunn County District Attorney once all evidence has been gathered and submitted.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Boyceville Police Department, Boyceville Community Fire Department, Boyceville Community Ambulance District, Menomonie Fire Department, and Wisconsin State Patrol.

The names of the three victims were not available prior to publication.