Jackson County (Press Release from the Jackson County Sheriff's
Department) - On Friday, August 10, 2012 Jackson County
authorities responded to two separate traffic crashes. Each of those crashes
resulted in a fatality according to Jackson County Sheriff Duane Waldera.
At approximately 3:50 PM, Sheriff's authorities and Black
River Falls EMS/Fire responded to County Highway O and Interstate 94 in the Township of Millston, for a reported single vehicle
motorcycle crash. Upon arrival, authorities found that a motorcycle had exited
the Interstate traveling eastbound at mile post 128.
Authorities stated that the motorcycle missed the paved
portion of the exit traveling in the grassy area between the exit ramp and the
Interstate heading towards County Highway O. The motorcycle then encountered an
embankment in the ditch area of County Highway O which sent the operator of the
motorcycle airborne. The cyclist impacted a street sign before landing on the
opposite side of the roadway.
The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the
scene of the crash and has been identified as 23-year-old John C. Becktel of Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
Later this same date, at approximately 7:48 p.m., Sheriff's
authorities and Black River Falls EMS/Fire were called to the scene of a second
crash. This crash was reported to be at the intersection of CTH-H and State
Highway 54 in the Township
of Albion.
Upon arrival, authorities found that two vehicles had
collided at the intersection with both vehicles coming to rest in a field SE of
the intersection.
Initial investigation at the scene revealed that a pick-up
truck had been traveling on CTH-H approaching State Highway 54. It appears that
the pick-up failed to stop at the intersection when it collided with a
southbound sedan 4 door passenger vehicle.
The driver of the pick-up was reportedly ejected from his
vehicle. The two occupants of the passenger vehicle were reported trapped
inside their vehicle.
Emergency crews worked on removing the two parties in the
passenger vehicle as well as treating the driver of the pick-up truck.
While attending to the victims found in the passenger
vehicle, one of those parties was found to have died as a result of the crash.
That party was identified as a passenger in the vehicle and further
identified as 24-year-old Kayla Konemann of Lyndon Station, Wisconsin.
The driver of the vehicle that Konemann was traveling in was identified as
26-year-old Myles A. Vollmer of Portage,
Wisconsin.
Vollmer was later air lifted by air ambulance to a local
hospital for medical treatment. His condition at the time of the crash was
critical.
The driver of the pick-up was identified as 35-year-old
Thomas Jahnke of Black River Falls,
Wisconsin.
Jahnke was also air lifted to a local medical facility for
medical treatment of injuries sustained in this crash. His condition at the
time of the incident was also believed to be critical as well.
Current conditions of the surviving parties are not
currently known.
Both matters remain under investigation by the Jackson
County Sheriff's Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol.
More information will be made available when some develops.
