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.