Construction Zone Flagger Struck By Vehicle In Ashland County

ASHLAND COUNTY -- At 12:12p on Monday August 26, 2019, a crash occurred on WIS 112 at Maple Lane in Ashland County near Ashland. The crash involved 1 injury, a female construction zone 'flagger' who was taken to the hospital with 'suspected serious injuries', according to a News Release from the Wisconsin State Patrol.

(News Release) -- On Monday, August 26, 2019 at approximately 12:12 PM, the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on Highway 112 near Maple Lane in the City of Ashland. A construction zone flagger, who had northbound traffic on Highway 112 stopped, was struck by a Toyota RAV4 when the driver of the RAV4 drove onto the right shoulder of the highway around four other vehicles that were stopped on the highway. The construction zone flagger was transported to an area hospital with suspected serious injuries. The driver of the RAV4 was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Assisting agencies included Ashland Police Department, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, and Ashland Fire/EMS.

PARTIES INVOLVED

Unit 1: Van/SUV (2009 Toyota RAV4)

Driver: Robertson, Gerald

77 Year Old Male From Mason, WI
Injuries: None
Seat Belt Use: Yes
Alcohol Use: No
Enforcement Action: Pending Investigation

Pedistrian: Williams, Vickie

43 Year Old Female From Odanah, WI
Injuries: Life Threatening
Taken To: Local Hospital

The Ashland Police Department has also issued a press release regarding the incident:

(Press Release) -- On 8-26-19 at about 12:15 pm Ashland Police Officers responded to Highway 112 just south of Maple Lane for a vehicle vs pedestrian accident.

Officers arrived and located the victim of the accident, a 43 year old Odanah, Wisconsin woman, who was being treated by a trauma nurse who happened to be at the scene. The victim was a flag person working at the construction site. The victim was soon treated by the Ashland Fire Department EMS and transported to the Memorial Medical Center. The injuries and current status of the victim is not known at this time as she is being treated by medical professionals.

The highway is currently under construction and has areas where traffic is held up to allow construction apparatus and material to be placed on scene. Prior to this accident, the flag personnel had stopped the northbound traffic and there was a line of cars and construction equipment who were waiting to be allowed through. It appears the suspect driver passed this line of stopped vehicles on the right. It appears as though the suspect vehicle, after passing the line of stopped vehicles, struck the victim with his vehicle. The suspect vehicle stopped and was fully cooperative with law enforcement.

The driver of the suspect vehicle is a 77 year old Mason, Wisconsin man. The driver was detained, interviewed, and released.

The Wisconsin State Patrol was requested to the scene to perform an accident reconstruction and investigation. This accident is currently an active investigation and has not been completed.

The Ashland Police Department will release further information as it becomes available. When the investigation is complete it will be reviewed for potential charges to the suspect. Names are being withheld while the investigation continues.

Last Update: Aug 27, 2019 10:57 am CDT