BARRON COUNTY (DrydenWire) - Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright has issued a press release with updated information regarding a fatal motorcycle versus car collision that occurred in Barron Township on September 2, 2023. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald issued a press release regarding the collision, which resulted in the death of 73-year-old Steven Roest.
On September 27, 2023, D.A. Wright, issued a press release stating that after a full review of the matter, at this time, no criminal charges will be filed against the driver of the car, Caryn Becker.
Becker voluntarily supplied a sample of her blood for testing, and if the results of that testing show that Becker was under the influence of intoxicants, then criminal charges may be filed at a later date.
The full press release from D.A. Wright may be read below.
Press Release
On Saturday, September 2, 2023 at approximately 1:03 PM, a fatal traffic accident occurred at the intersection of U.S. Highway 8 and 18’h Street in Barron Township, Barron County, Wisconsin. A vehicle traveling northbound on 18!h Street was stopped at the stop sign, at the intersection of 18th Street and U.S. Highway 8, waiting for traffic on U.S. Highway 8 to clear before making a left turn onto U.S. Highway 8, toward Barron. The vehicle pulled out into the intersection and did not see a motorcycle traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 8, behind a vehicle that was turning to travel southbound on 18’h Street.
The driver of the vehicle that pulled into the intersection immediately slammed on her brakes when she observed the motorcycle behind the vehicle that was turning to travel southbound on 18th Street. The driver of the motorcycle, who was identified as S.G.R., ditched the motorcycle in an attempt to avoid colliding with the vehicle. However, the motorcycle struck the front driver side of the vehicle before coming to rest in the westbound lane of U.S. Highway 8.
S.G.R. ended up under the front bumper of the vehicle. Other motorists and the driver of the vehicle that pulled into the intersection immediately began tending to S.G.R. until first responders arrived. First responders carried out life- saving efforts. S.G.R. was transported to Barron Mayo Hospital, in Barron, where he died as a result of his injuries from the accident.
The Barron County Sheriff's Department and Wisconsin State Patrol undertook a crash investigation and reconstruction of the crash scene. The investigation included interviews and statements from eye-witnesses to the accident. The driver of the vehicle that pulled into the intersection fully cooperated with the investigation, including providing a consensual sample of her blood for analysis by the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene.
The driver of the vehicle that pulled into the intersection showed no signs of being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, or otherwise being impaired. If the results of the test on the driver's blood sample, when they are received, show that she was under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, criminal charges at a later date may be filed.
Upon a thorough review of the investigation that was completed by the Barron County Sheriff's Department, no criminal charges will be filed by the District Attorney's office, unless the test results on the driver's blood sample, when they are received, show the driver was under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. I have determined that the fatal crash involved no criminal wrongdoing by the driver pending confirmation that she was not under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
-- Per Brian Wright, District Attorney
Last Update: Sep 27, 2023 5:45 pm CDT
