TWO-VEHICLE FATALITY CRASH - UPDATE
September 27, 2009
Lt. Richelle Anhalt
Phone: (608) 284-6155
FAX: (608) 284-6043
Madison, WI – At 12:23 a.m. Dane County Sheriff’s Deputies, Mount Horeb Police, Mount Horeb Fire and EMS, and Med Flight responded to a two-vehicle fatality crash on USH 18 & 151, east of County Highway ID, in the Town of Springdale.
Eight minutes prior to the crash, Dane County Dispatch received a call of a possible intoxicated driver on USH 18/151. The 17-year-old driver from Cross Plains was operating his 1996 Ford Ranger westbound in the eastbound lanes of traffic on USH 18/151. He collided head on with an oncoming 2003 Nissan Altima operated by a 28-year-old Fitchburg woman. The driver of the truck was transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Altima was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her passenger, a 28-year-old man from Madison man, was transported to UW Hospital by med-flight with life-threatening injuries.
Names of the victims are not being released pending notification of relatives. The driver of the truck is tentatively being charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. This crash remains under investigation by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.
While assisting with this crash, Mount Horeb Police arrested a passing motorist for Operating While Intoxicated. Numerous other operating while intoxicated arrests were made throughout the county. Dane County Deputies made three additional arrests for Operating while intoxicated. Speed, alcohol, and intoxicated driving continue to be a significant factor in fatalities on Wisconsin’s highways.
***Update***
September 27, 2009 – The woman killed in this morning's two-vehicle crash in the town of Springdale has been identified as 28- year-old Mackenzie A. Reynolds of Fitchburg. Her passenger, Jerry J. Kurt, age 28 of Fitchburg remains in critical condition. Reynolds’ vehicle was struck head-on by a Ford pick-up truck driven by 17-year-old Nathan Zander of Cross Plains. He remains hospitalized in serious conditions. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate this crash and charges against Zander are pending.