BARRON COUNTY, WI — No criminal charges will be filed in the November 19, 2024, fatal crash that claimed the life of a 75-year-old Cameron man who was attempting to remove a deer carcass from U.S. Highway 8 near County Highway K. The announcement was made today by the Barron County District Attorney’s Office following a thorough investigation by law enforcement, including the Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit.
The tragic incident occurred when the decedent, who had struck a deer while traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 8, exited his vehicle to remove the carcass from the roadway. A passerby stopped to assist, and the two entered the roadway near the center hash lines of the eastbound lanes. Despite efforts by the decedent to signal his location with a small flashlight, he was struck by two eastbound vehicles: a green 1999 GMC Sierra pickup equipped with a snowplow and a silver 2013 Ford Explorer.
The crash happened in total darkness with misting rain, creating challenging visibility conditions. The decedent was dressed in a black leather jacket, blue jeans, and black cowboy boots, and witnesses reported that the two drivers who struck the man were unable to see him until it was too late.
According to the crash report, the 75-year-old man was initially struck by the Ford Explorer, which projected him into the path of the GMC Sierra, where he was struck again by the snowplow. Both drivers, identified as a 48-year-old male from Rice Lake and a 62-year-old male from Almena, reported believing they had struck the deer rather than a person. Both drivers slowed down upon approach after noticing vehicles parked on the shoulder with activated hazard lights.
The Wisconsin State Patrol conducted a detailed reconstruction of the scene, which revealed that neither of the drivers was under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances at the time of the crash.
The Barron County District Attorney’s Office concluded that the incident was a tragic accident and determined that no criminal charges are warranted.
The crash prompted a significant multi-agency response. According to the Barron County Sheriff’s Office, the incident was reported to the 911 Center on November 20, 2024, at 5:40 p.m. Emergency responders from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department, Turtle Lake Police Department, Turtle Lake Fire Department, Cumberland Ambulance, Turtle Lake First Responders, and Life Link Helicopter arrived at the scene. U.S. Highway 8 was closed for over four hours as the scene was investigated.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this tragic accident,” stated Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald in an earlier release. “Special thanks to our law enforcement and first responders who worked tirelessly at the scene.”
Last Update: Jan 28, 2025 4:29 pm CST
