For week ending Dec. 31, 2023
On 12/25/2023 at approximately 9:12 p.m. a deputy with the Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle traveling northbound on USH 51 near CTH V in the Town of Birch at an extremely high rate of speed. The deputy indicated the vehicle was traveling in excess of 100 mph. The deputy radioed for help and attempted to go after the vehicle. A short time later a second deputy observed the vehicle still northbound on USH 51 traveling 127 mph. The second deputy attempted to pursue the vehicle but terminated the chase for safety concerns. The information was passed on to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. At this point the car and driver have not been identified.
On 12/26/2023 at approximately 7:42 a.m. emergency crews were sent to the Lokemoen boat landing in the Town of Merrill for a car partially submerged in the Wisconsin River. [See front page article.]
On 12/27/2023 at approximately 6:42 p.m. in the area of 1st St. and Center Ave. in the City of Merrill a deputy stopped a vehicle for failure to yield the right of way at the roundabout. When stopped, the driver, a 21-year-old male from Merrill, told the deputy that he didn’t have a valid driver’s license. During the stop, the driver asked the deputy to just let him go and then offered the deputy money to let him go. The driver was cited for a criminal charge of operating a motor vehicle 3+ times in a 3-year period, as well as failure to yield the right of way. The driver was then required to wait for someone with a valid license to come and move his vehicle.
On 12/30/2023 at approximately 4:32 p.m. deputies were sent to the area of USH 51 and Schulz Spur Rd. in the Town of Merrill for a reported motor vehicle crash with injuries. Investigating deputies discovered the driver, a 40-year-old male, had lost control of his vehicle on icy roads and crashed. The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to Aspirus Merrill Hospital by ambulance. The two occupants were uninjured and transported to Aspirus Merrill Hospital to be with the driver.
On 12/30/2023 at approximately 6:46 p.m. deputies were sent to the area of USH 51 and Lincoln Dr. in the Town of Merrill for a reported motor vehicle crash with injuries. Investigating deputies discovered that the driver, a 73-year-old Marshfield man, was southbound on USH 51 when he lost control of his vehicle on icy roads. As a result of this, the vehicle flipped on its driver’s side, pinning the driver in the car. The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital by ambulance.
On 12/31/2023 at approximately 6:17 p.m. deputies were sent to the area of CTH M and Tower Rd. in the Town of Corning for a reported motor vehicle crash with injuries. Investigating deputies discovered that the driver, a 33-year-old Antigo man, was westbound on CTH M when he said he lost control of his vehicle on loose gravel on the road, causing him to overcorrect the vehicle. The vehicle then entered the ditch and rolled onto its roof. Both the driver and his passenger, a 47-year-old woman from Ladysmith, were transported by ambulance to Aspirus Merrill Hospital. A dog in the vehicle was transported by a deputy to the Lincoln County Humane Society to be cared for until the owner could get the dog.
There were four car vs deer crashes this week.