Suspected Drunk Driver Causes Serious Wrong-Way Freeway Crash - Highway 29 - Town of Elk Mound

Shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a wrong-way driver travelling Westbound in the eastbound lanes of STH 29 from mile marker 66 in Chippewa County. At 8:30 p.m., the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a head-on crash on STH 29 near mile marker 62 in the Township of Elk Mound, County of Dunn.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin DNR, Colfax EMS, and Elk Mound Fire Department responded to the scene. Upon arrival, deputies determined there were three vehicles involved in the crash and that there were non-life threatening injuries to the occupants.

The preliminary investigation indicates the wrong-way driver was operating a GMC Sierra westbound in the eastbound lanes of STH 29. There were two eastbound vehicles, a BMW and a Chevrolet Silverado that were struck head-on by the wrong-way driver.

There were three reported injuries that are non-life threatening in nature. The eastbound lanes of STH 29 were shut down as a result of the crash for an hour and a half.

Alcohol and/or drugs are believed to be contributing factors in the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office.

Fatal Crash - Menomonie Township

At 2:48 a.m. on Sunday, January 3, 2021, the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a single vehicle crash on CTH BB, just north of USH 12 in Menomonie township.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office and Menomonie Fire Department responded to the scene. Upon arrival, deputies located a lone unresponsive male in a 2008 Chevrolet, Envoy SUV in the field north of CTH BB.

The preliminary investigation indicates the SUV was north bound on 390th St. and failed to stop for the stop sign at USH 12. The vehicle crossed USH 12 onto CTH BB, and a short time later left the roadway striking a large tree. The vehicle sustained severe front end damage from impacting the tree, and later came to rest in a cut corn field.

The Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene and pronounced the 24-year-old male driver, from Elk Mound, deceased at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The name of the operator is being withheld pending notification of his family.

Homicide Investigation - Menomonie Township

On November 17, 2020 at approximately 3:42 PM, a homicide investigation was initiated regarding a death at N2564 440th St in Dunn Township.

Dunn County Sheriff’s Deputies initially responded to the residence to check the welfare of an occupant of the residence. Deputies located a deceased adult, white, male in the residence.

At that time the name of the deceased was unknown.

One suspect was taken into custody at the residence after Deputies arrived.

Two other suspects were taken into custody at a motel in Menomonie On November 17, 2020 at approximately 11:30 PM.

An autopsy was conducted at the Ramsey County Medical examiner’s Office.

The deceased was identified as Bruce E. McGuigan, age 37, of Hayward, WI. The pathologist determined the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.

The deceased was known to at least one of the suspects and the incident was not random in nature.

The following individuals are in custody at the Dunn County Jail and have been charged as indicated below as a result of the ongoing investigation.

Ryan L. Steinhoff, age 37

- First Degree Intentional Homicide, As a Party To The Crime

- Multiple counts of Bail Jumping

Chad D. Turgeson, age 37

- First Degree Intentional Homicide, As a Party To The Crime

Ashley A. Gunder, age 24

- First Degree Intentional Homicide, As a Party To The Crime

- Multiple counts of Bail Jumping

Attached are the booking photos for the above individuals.

The matter remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin Crime lab, Wisconsin State Patrol and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office.

If you have information regarding this incident, contact the Dunn County Crime Stoppers at http://dunncocrimestoppers.com/ or call 1-855-TIP-DUNN. You can also contact Investigator Mack at jmack@co.dunn.wi.us, Investigator Merryfield at rmerryfield@co.dunn.wi.us or by phone 715-232-1348.

No further information is available currently.