CHIPPEWA COUNTY — A 19-year-old man was killed early Sunday morning after his vehicle collided with a highway department snowplow on WIS 29 eastbound near County Road H in Chippewa County, according to authorities.
The crash occurred at approximately 4:07a on February 2, 2025, when a Chippewa County Highway Department truck was performing winter maintenance near Stanley. Officials say a 2017 Jeep Compass, driven by 19-year-old Treyton Douglas Tessmer of Withee, WI, struck the rear of the snowplow, a 2019 Freightliner, which was operated by 45-year-old Bernard John Potaczek of Stanley, WI.
Tessmer suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Chippewa County Coroner. Potaczek was not injured in the crash.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including the Stanley Police Department, Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department, Stanley Fire Department, Boyd Ambulance Service, and the Chippewa County Coroner’s Office.
The Wisconsin State Patrol is leading the investigation into the crash.
Last Update: Feb 03, 2025 12:54 pm CST
