On May 1, 2019 at 1:46 AM, the Dunn County Communications Center received a 911 call from an OnStar Notification Service advising of a vehicle crash that had just occurred near the 7500 Block of CTY TK B in the Township of Tainter. The Ford Sync service provided a GPS location for the vehicle allowing emergency responders to be dispatched immediately. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Menomonie Fire/Rescue were sent to the scene. A rescue helicopter was also contacted but unable to fly due to the weather conditions. The lone occupant of the vehicle, a 22 year-old male, was transported to Mayo Hospital in Menomonie, WI where he was pronounced dead. Based on the initial investigation of the crash it appeared the vehicle was northbound on County Highway B and it left the roadway striking a tree. It is believed that alcohol was a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information will be released at this time. The name of the driver will be released after the family is notified. The driver killed in the accident is identified as 22 year-old Logan Dukek of rural Menomonie.

On April 26, 2019 at about 12:41 AM the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office along with Dallas Ambulance and northern first responders were dispatched to the intersection of County Road V and 490th St., in the Township of Sheridan, County of Dunn for a motorcycle crash. The subsequent investigation showed the motorcycle was Eastbound on County Road V and failed to negotiate the curve. The motorcycle entered the ditch and the lone operator was ejected. The operator was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office. ************************************************************************************* UPDATED INFORMATION Name released The deceased driver was identified as Richard J Larson 56 YOA of rural Boyceville.

On April 10th, 2019 just after 10:00am, the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office along with Menomonie Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the 4500 block of 380th Ave, in the Township of Menomonie for a vehicle that was found on its side. The subsequent investigation showed the driver of the westbound SUV failed to negotiate the corner on 380th Ave, left the roadway and struck a large tree, causing the vehicle to overturn. The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary investigation shows speed was a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol. The operator of the vehicle was identified as 60 year old, Paul R. Darnell of rural Menomonie.

On March 29th, 2019 at approximately 2:22 a.m. the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a wrong way driver on STH 29 traveling westbound in the eastbound lane from CTH T in Chippewa County. Dunn County Deputies responded to intercept the vehicle at the Dunn and Chippewa County line. While enroute Deputies were advised that the callers were able to able to stop the suspect vehicle in Dunn County near the Chippewa County line and had taken the car keys from the operator. Upon arrival the callers, identified as Brett J. Baur and Scott W. Denis of Minnesota, indicated that they had observed the suspect vehicle leave 29 Pines at CTH T and STH 29 and begin travelling westbound in the eastbound lane of STH 29. After immediately calling 911 they followed the suspect vehicle in their semi flashing their lights to warn other traffic and attempt to get the vehicle to stop. The suspect vehicle eventually stopped and they were able to remove the keys from the vehicle until law enforcement arrived. The operator of the vehicle, identified as 21-year-old Megan L. Bergeson of Eau Claire, was found slumped over in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Upon contact with Megan it appeared as though she was under the influence of alcohol. Megan indicated that she was trying to get home but couldn’t tell the deputy where she lived. She also could not say where she had been drinking. Bergeson was arrested for First Offense Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence, Driving Wrong Way on Divided Highway and transported to Mayo Menomonie for a legal blood draw. She was then booked in at the Dunn County Jail. The Sheriff’s Office would like to commend Brett and Scott for their selfless actions which most likely prevented this situation from having a tragic conclusion.

On March 14th, 2019 at about 3:07 PM the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office along with Menomonie Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the intersection of US 12 and Cth B, in the Township of Red Cedar for a car vs. semi crash with injury. The subsequent investigation showed a SUV that was southbound on Cth B, entered the intersection and collided with a semi, tractor-trailer, that was westbound on US 12. Due to the significant damage to the SUV, the driver was extricated from the vehicle by Menomonie Fire and Rescue. The driver of the SUV was transported from the scene to Mayo Menomonie, where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the semi was not injured. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol. No further information will be released at this time pending notification of family members.

On Saturday, February 09, 2019 at approximately 7:31 PM., the Dunn County E-911 Center received a report of a snowmobile crash that occurred near the 8500 Block of 870th St. in the Township of Colfax in Dunn County. It was reported that the snowmobile operator, a 29-year-old rural Boyceville man was unconscious. Dunn County Sheriff’s Deputies, Menomonie Fire and Rescue, Colfax Fire and Rescue, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Life Link Helicopter responded to the scene. After a preliminary crash investigation, it was determined that the snowmobile operator was southbound on a designated snowmobile trail. It appears the snowmobile operator lost control of the snowmobile, left the trail and was ejected. The operator was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office. The crash remains under investigation by deputies from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Sheriff Kevin Bygd encourages all snowmobilers to ride responsible. There were five fatal snowmobile crashes last night state wide. Brenden M. Schutts, age 29 was the operator of the snowmobile who was killed in this crash.

On Tuesday, January 8, 2019 the Dunn County Communications Center received an attempt to locate request from Altoona Police Department on a potentially suicidal subject that was possibly in the Menomonie area. A green alert had also been sent out in an attempt to locate the subject and vehicle. Dunn County Deputies located the suspect car on STH 170 west of Colfax and stopped the subject to check his welfare at about 4:00 p.m. Shortly after making contact the subject he fled in this car while deputies were trying to evaluate him. Deputies pursued the subject with information that he may be armed with a handgun. The pursuit lead deputies through Colfax and Elk Mound into Eau Claire County when the pursuit was turned over to Eau Claire County deputies as primary units behind the vehicle. The suspect lead the pursuit back into Dunn County, south of Elk Mound. After several attempts to deploy tire deflation devises to get the subject stopped, a pursuit intervention technique was used to disable the vehicle. Dunn and Eau Claire deputies negotiated with the subject for nearly an hour because he produced a knife and refused to get out of his vehicle. He eventually cooperated, gave up the knife and was taken into custody by deputies without force or injury to anyone at about 5:42 p.m. The suspect car and the Eau Claire County squad were both damaged from the pursuit intervention technique. The suspect was transported by Dunn County deputies to a local hospital for evaluation.

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 11:05 AM the Dunn County E-911 Center received a report of a Cirrus aircraft that had gone in the Township of Sand Creek. Dunn County Deputies, Sand Creek Fire and Colfax Ambulance were dispatched to the area. A short time later the pilot was reported to have arrived at the Sand Creek Fire Department. The pilot was the only occupant of the aircraft and was not injured. The aircraft was located in a harvested cornfield southeast of 1450th Ave and Cty Rd I. The airplane struck an irrigator. The pilot was from Duluth, MN. He was flying from Cumberland, WI to Akron, OH when the aircraft experienced mechanical issues. An airframe parachute was deployed and the aircraft went down in the field. An investigator from the FAA was responding to the scene to further investigate the incident. Sheriff Dennis Smith

On Friday, September 21, 2018 at 8:31 AM the Dunn County E-911 Center received a report of a tire that had blown while it was being worked on and an adult male had sustained head trauma. Eau Claire Ambulance and Dunn County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the scene in the 9600 block of Cty Rd E in Spring Brook Township. The adult male had sustained trauma to the head and was pronounced dead on scene. No one else was injured. Based on the investigation it was learned that a tire had been changed on a wheel from a wagon used to haul silage. While the tire was being inflated, the tire depressurized and the escaping air launched the tire and rim into the adult male who was working on the tire. The Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office assisted on scene. The incident remains under investigation. The name of the deceased is not being released pending notification of family members.

On Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 1:29 PM the Dunn County E-911 Center received a report of two motorcycles involved in a crash on State Rd 64 at Cty Rd Q in New Haven Township. Dunn County Deputies and Boyceville Fire and Ambulance were dispatched to the scene. Base on the investigation it was learned that a group of motorcycles were eastbound on State Rd 64 and the group was intending to proceed south on Cty Rd Q. While approaching Cty Rd Q, an adult male operator of one motorcycle struck the rear of the motorcycle in front of him which was operated by an adult female. Both operators were ejected from their motorcycles. There were no other occupants on each cycle. Neither operator was wearing a helmet. The female was transported by Boyceville ambulance to Mayo-Menomonie with serious injuries. Life saving measures were attempted with the male involved, however, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers were from Minnesota. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol. Update: The deceased male was identified as David A. Nelson age 50 from Brooklyn Center, MN The female was identified as Carol Anne Kukacka, age 53 also from Brooklyn Center, MN Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this crash.

On 8-27-18 about 6:30 PM the Dunn County Communications center received several reports of weather related damage in the Village of Boyceville . The damage is mainly concentrated to the area of the Village south of STH 170. There are numerous trees down in the area along with some power lines. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office responded initially. Due to the widespread damage Boyceville Fire, Boyceville EMS, Boyceville Police Department, Boyceville Public Works Department and the Dunn County Hwy shops all responded to the area and remain out at this time clearing the roads and providing traffic control until Xcel energy can fix the power lines. No injuries were reported as a result of this storm and at this point it appears there is no significant damage to any structures. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office is also responding to scattered reports of trees across the road on the east side of the county as well. The sheriff’s Office asks that you use caution while driving on less traveled roads as dark falls in case there is debris in the road that has not been reported.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office reports that today, August 7, 2018 at 1:14 PM the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a male subject harassing a female in the town of Rock Creek, in Dunn County, WI Dunn County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area and spoke to the complainant. At approximately the same time or a short time later, a deputy made contact with the suspect in Caryville. During that contact deputies were attempting to listen to the suspect’s side of the incident. They also identified the subject and was running his name through the state and national data base to see if the person is valid to drive and if there are any warrants on the suspect. We believe the suspect was aware of a warrant on him and abruptly left the location of the contact at a high rate of speed in his vehicle. While deputies began pursuing the vehicle, they were advised by dispatch that there is a warrant for the suspect. Deputies pursued the suspect toward Eau Claire on STH 85 and near the county line a deputy observed the driver reach behind the seat and pull a long gun into the front seat. The deputies then backed off to wait for additional officers to assist in a stop. The suspect then turned on to a town road in Eau Claire County and the deputies followed cautiously. They ended up losing sight of the vehicle while maneuvering some corners they were not familiar with. A short time later, Eau Claire County deputies arrived in the area and attempted to locate the wanted suspect. We later heard radio traffic indicating “shots fired”. Dunn County Deputies were not present or involved in that part of this incident. Eau Claire County Sheriff Ron Cramer was on scene and was able to provide the media with information regarding that radio traffic.