Flood Water Rescue - Town of Peru

On March 19, 2016 at approximately 10:03 PM the Dunn County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a vehicle and its four occupants were trapped in flood waters and the water was entering the vehicle. The incident occurred on 160th Avenue just west of Meridean in the Town of Peru along the Chippewa River. Dunn County Sheriffs’ Deputies responded to the scene as well as the Durand Fire Department, Durand Ambulance Service, and area Dunn County First Responders.

The Fire Department was able to safely extricate the four occupants who had taken housing on the roof of the vehicle to avoid the flood waters. The four occupants were safely removed from the flood water and no injuries were reported other than minor exposure to the cold water.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and other first responders would like to remind all persons traveling near flooded roadways to “TURN AROUND - DON’T DROWN”. When roadways become flooded it is impossible for an operator to know where the actual paved roadway is and if the actual roadway is not washed out. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water.

Fatal Crash - Town of Tiffany

On March 18, 2016 at approximately 3:18 PM the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a one-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 79 and 280th Street in the Township of Tiffany. Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Boyceville Fire Department, Boyceville Ambulance, Boyceville Police Department, and Life-Link Medical Helicopter responded.

The vehicle was northbound on State Highway 79 approaching 280th Street when it failed to negotiate a curve, entered a wooded area and struck a tree. The vehicle became engulfed in flames. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dunn County Medical Examiner.

Alcohol appears to be a contributing factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office. The name of the victim is not being released at this time pending family notification.

OWI Suspect Flees Deputy in Excess of 100 MPH, Crashes - Interstate 94, Elk Mound

On February 19, 2015, a Dunn County Deputy Observed a 4-dr sedan vehicle fail to stop at the stop sign at 850th St and US 12 in the Town of Elk Mound. The vehicle merged onto I-94 E/B at high rate of speed. The vehicle was in excess of 95 MPH and the Deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle failed to stop and continued at speeds in excess of 100 MPH.

The Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department and Wisconsin State Patrol were notified and were responding. At about MM 65 E/B in the Town of Washington, Eau Claire County, the vehicle came up behind a couple of vehicles and struck a 1998 Chevrolet S10 from the rear, causing both vehicles to loose control. The S10 started on fire and the Deputy extricated the driver from the vehicle. The driver was transported to Mayo-Eau Claire with unknown, non-life threatening injures by Eau Claire Fire and rescue.

The driver of the fleeing vehicle a 2014 Toyota Camry was not injured. He was identified as Michael O Gardner (43 YOA) of Eau Claire. Gardner was arrested on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant causing injury and felony fleeing from an officer. He was transported to the Dunn County Jail. Formal charges are pending from the Dunn County District Attorney’s Office.

The Wisconsin State Patrol, the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department, Township Fire and Eau Claire Rescue responded to the crash. The crash is being investigated by the Wisconsin State Patrol.