RUSK COUNTY (DrydenWire) - A routine Wednesday evening turned tragic when a series of collisions occurred on Highway 8 near Townline Rd, West of Ladysmith, WI. The Rusk County 911 Center received a distressing call at 5:50p reporting a two-vehicle crash.
According to the Rusk County Sheriff's Office, the incident began when a 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by 59-year-old Gregory Davis of Ladysmith, WI, was traveling westbound on Hwy 8. Davis slowed down to make a right-hand turn when his vehicle was unexpectedly rear-ended by a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by 35-year-old Kai Rasmussen from Bruce, WI.
Following the initial collision, the 2019 Tahoe managed to pull off the roadway, but the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix became disabled, remaining in the road without working tail lights.
Tragically, the situation took a devastating turn when Rasmussen and his passenger, 18-year-old Robert Merta of Ladysmith, WI, attempted to push their disabled vehicle off the road. While doing so, they were struck by another westbound vehicle, a 2017 Ford Escape driven by 62-year-old Mark Western from Cameron, WI.
Kai Rasmussen sustained fatal injuries as a result of the second crash.
Emergency services quickly responded to the scene, including the Rusk County Sheriff's Office, Ladysmith Fire Department, Ladysmith Police Department, Rusk County Ambulance Service, Rusk County Medical Examiner, and Life Link I. The Wisconsin State Patrol-Traffic Reconstruction Unit was deployed to reconstruct the crash scene.
The crash is still under investigation by the Rusk County Sheriff's Office.
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Last Update: Feb 02, 2024 11:13 am CST
