Three die in motorcycle vs car crash in St. Croix County
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
NEW RICHMOND — Three people are dead after a motorcycle crashed into a car at the intersection of State Highway 64 and County Trunk Highway T in the St. Croix County Township of Stanton at approximately 7:10 p.m. on Friday July 19, 2019.
The deceased have been identified as Thomas John Plasch, 55, the car’s driver, and his passenger Miriam Rosal Espinosa, 46, both of Oakdale, MN, and the motorcyclist, 34-year-old Cody Lynn Cook-Terhume of Somerset, WI. All three were pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Croix County Medical Examiner.
According to the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office which was dispatched to the scene, a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle being driven by Cook-Terhume was traveling westbound on STH 64, when it struck the 2008 Lincoln passenger car, carrying Plasch and Espinosa, that was traveling north on CTH T that had entered the intersection. Traffic on STH 64 has the right of way, while those traveling on CTH T have a stop sign.
The St. Croix County Emergency Communications Center had received a call just prior to the crash stating that the stop sign for northbound traffic on CTH T had been knocked down.
A subsequent investigation by the Sheriff’s Office revealed that the down stop sign does not appear to be a factor in the accident.
In an updated press release from Monday, July 22, the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Mr. Plasch and Ms. Espinosa were traveling north on CTH T. CTH T is controlled by a stop sign,“Stop Ahead” warning signs, and rumble strips. Witnesses confirm that Mr. Plasch was stopped, even though the stop sign was down, as they were waiting for other traffic to clear the intersection.”
“Numerous witnesses also confirm that the motorcycle Cook-Terhume was operating, was “traveling at a very high rate of speed” just prior to the crash. He was also seen by witnesses, passing vehicles on the right shoulder.”
The release also said that approximately 10 minutes prior to the crash, the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office received a traffic complaint, in the area of STH 64 and 170th Ave., of a motorcycle and operator, matching the description of the motorcycle and driver Cook-Terhume, that were traveling eastbound on STH 64. The witness stated the motorcycle was operating at a high rate of speed, passing the caller on the center line as there was on-coming traffic as well as passing other vehicles on the right, and on a hill.
Both Plasch and Espinosa were wearing seat belts. Cook-Terhume was not wearing a helmet.
Traffic was detoured for about five hours while deputies reconstructed the crash scene.
The agencies assisting during this incident were the New Richmond Police, New Richmond EMS, Deer Park Fire I Rescue, St. Croix County Highway Department, and the St. Croix County Medical Examiner’s Offices.
These were the 6th, 7th and 8th traffic fatalities recorded by St. Croix County in 2019.
This incident remains under investigation.