TOWN OF ST. JOSEPH – A Houlton woman died from injuries sustained in a suspected alcohol-related crash early Thursday, January 13 in St. Croix County.
The St. Croix County Emergency Communications Center received a call at about 12:16 a.m. on January 13, 2022, of a two-vehicle crash with injuries in the 1200 block of Highway 35 in St. Joseph Township.
Deputies arrived on scene and located a 2016 Chevy Silverado operated by Benjamin Daniel Blietz, 39, from Hudson, Wis., which had been southbound on Highway 35. His truck collided with a 2003 Pontiac Montana minivan operated by Bridget Rose Lipinski Clifton, 34, from Houlton, Wis., which had been northbound on Highway 35.
Clifton was seriously injured in the crash and was transported to Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, where she was pronounced dead.
Blietz was not injured and showed signs of impairment during an initial investigation with deputies. He was arrested and is being held in the St. Croix County Jail on suspicion of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The case has been referred to the St. Croix County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of possible charges.
Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the North Hudson Police Department, St. Joseph Fire and Rescue, Somerset Fire, Lakeview EMS and the St. Croix County Highway Department.
The incident represents the first traffic fatality recorded by St. Croix County in 2022.
This incident remains under investigation.
