Squad demolished but deputy survives

Posted at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, October 11, 2021

The Brillion News

ROCKWOOD - A Manitowoc County deputy sheriff escaped with non-life threatening injuries early Sunday morning when her squad car, a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, was struck in the rear by a 2007 Corvette operated by a man that Sheriff Dan Hartwig said was intoxicated.

It happened around 2:35 a.m. on I-43, just north of the interchange with U.S 10 and State 310.

The Manitowoc County Joint Dispatch Center was notified by radio, by the deputy, that she was involved in a motor vehicle crash and needed help.

The officer was in her squad, parked in the median, at a turnaround.

She was watching southbound traffic when her vehicle was struck from behind by the car driven by a 41-year old Francis Creek man. The patrol vehicle was essentially destroyed by the impact.

He was trapped in his car with life-threatening injuries that the sheriff called "severe." Firefighters extricated him with the help of the Jaws of Life. He was then flown to BayCare Hospital in Green Bay by the ThedaStar EMS helicopter.

He was also arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing injury.

Because the crash involved an officer with the sheriff's department, the investigation was turned over to the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The crash scene and investigation forced the closure of I-43 in the area, both northbound and southbound, for about five hours.

Attending the scene were the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department, Two Rivers Police Department, Manitowoc Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol. Branch Fire Department, Branch EMS First Responders, Francis Creek EMS First Responders, Manitowoc Fire/Rescue, Rockwood Fire Department, ThedaStar EMS Helicopter, Manitowoc County Highway Department, and the Hi-Way 42 Garage.

The emergency response was managed by the Manitowoc County Joint Dispatch Center.