BARRON COUNTY - On Tuesday, January 9th, 2024, tragedy struck as the Barron County 911 Center received multiple distress calls reporting a two-car accident at the intersection of County Road W and 18th Street, situated between Cameron and Barron. The incident occurred at approximately 6:58 PM, prompting a swift response from various emergency services, according to a press release from the Barron County Sheriff’s Office.
Press Release
On Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 6:58 PM, the Barron County 911 Center received multiple calls of a 2 car accident at County Road W and 18th Street, between Cameron and Barron.
Deputies from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department along with the WI State Patrol, Barron Police Department, Mayo Ambulance, Barron Fire Department, Marshfield Medical Center Ambulance, Cameron Fire Department, Barron County First Responders, and Life Link Helicopter all responded to the scene.
Preliminary investigation shows that a truck being driven by Braden Thomas, age 19, from New Auburn, was eastbound on CTH W. Another truck, driven by Elizabeth Steward, age 32, from Ladysmith was northbound on 18th St and failed to stop at the stop sign at County Road W. Both trucks collided and ended up in a field, with Steward's truck fully engulfed and Thomas' truck overturned.
Witnesses stopped and rendered aid to both drivers, including pulling Steward away from her burning vehicle. Medical aid was rendered on the scene, however, Steward passed away on scene and Thomas was flown to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The accident remains under investigation by the WI State Patrol.
County Road W was closed with the assistance of the Barron County Hwy Department for over 4 hours.
This is Barron County’s first traffic fatality of the year.
-- Per Chris Fitzgerald, Barron County Sheriff
Last Update: Jan 10, 2024 12:33 pm CST
