PIERCE COUNTY Accident Reports

Officers were called to a one-vehicle crash at 11:58 p.m. Feb. 13 on Highway 35 two-thirds of a mile north of County Road O in the town of Diamond Bluff. A 2013 GMC Sierra, driven by Tara Marie Tri, 40, Hager City, was heading north on Highway 35 when it ran off the road into the north ditch. The vehicle struck a no passing sign and traffic post. Tri traveled through the ditch for hundreds of feet before getting stuck in the snow. The vehicle had minor damage. Tri wore a seat belt and reported no injuries, but was cited for OWI, failure to keep vehicle under control and operating with PAC.

Deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash at 8:44 a.m. Feb. 14 on County Road BB at 850th Avenue in the town of Gilman between a 2013 Chevrolet Impala, driven by Olivia Ann Campbell, 17, Spring Valley, and 2008 GMC Acadia, driven by Jessica Clare Lang, 38, Baldwin. Campbell was heading south on County Road BB and attempting to make a right-hand turn to head west onto 850th Avenue. Lang was behind Campbell and attempted to stop but slid into the back of Campbell’s vehicle. Both vehicles had minor damage. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries. Lang had two passengers with her, ages 7 and 5. Both wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Officers were called to a two-vehicle crash at 7:51 a.m. Feb. 15 on 1180th Street just north of 497th Avenue in the town of Oak Grove between a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by Courtney Ann Johnson, 26, Prescott, and a 2007 Toyota Tacoma, driven by Mason John Lewis, 17, Prescott. Johnson was traveling south on 1180th Street, while Lewis was heading north on 1180th Street. Johnson was trying to navigate a right curve when she started to slide into the opposite lane of traffic, due to traveling too fast for conditions. She struck Lewis’ truck, causing it to go into the west ditch. Johnson continued in the opposite lane of traffic and came to rest finally in the west ditch. Johnson’s vehicle had functional damage, while Lewis’ truck had to be towed due to disabling damage. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Police responded to a one-vehicle rollover crash at 9:40 p.m. Feb. 15 on Highway 29 four-tenths of a mile west of 1170th Street in the town of Clifton. A 2013 Chrysler 300, driven by Gavin Hanson Tubre, 17, River Falls, was traveling east on Highway 29 when it struck snow on the road and began to slide sideways. It slid across the center line before striking another snow pile on the north ditch, causing the vehicle to overturn before coming to a stop on all four tires in the ditch. Tubre said he was traveling the speed limit but hit an icy patch. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. Tubre and passengers Preston David Martineau, 17, Hudson, and Gabriel Julius Severson, 18, River Falls, all wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash at 5:10 p.m. Feb. 17 on Highway 10 just west of 570th Avenue in the town of Oak Grove between a 2008 Nissan Rogue, driven by Edward James Saas, 56, Arkansaw, and a 2005 Chevrolet C15, driven by Patrick Lee Wright, 51, Ellsworth. Saas was traveling eastbound near the far west entrance to the Valley Bar & Grill. Wright was heading west at the same location. Wright said the son was in his eyes so he didn’t see Saas’ vehicle when he turned left to enter the Valley parking lot. He struck Saas head-on, spun around and into the ditch. Saas was pushed off the road into the parking lot area. Both vehicles were towed due to disabling damage. Saas wore a seat belt and reported no injuries. Wright, who was not wearing a seat belt, reported no injuries. He was cited for operate without valid license, non-registration of auto and fail/yield while making left turn.

Police were called to a one-vehicle crash at 10:45 p.m. Feb. 18 on County Road F one-third mile south of 742nd Street in the town of Clifton. A 2015 GMC Yukon, driven by Christina Irene Bergman, 57, Prescott, was heading south on County Road F. She hit a patch of ice, crossed the center line, and landed in the ditch. The vehicle had minor damage. Bergman and a passenger, Sharon Irene Boesiger, 75, Prescott, both wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 7:42 p.m. Feb. 19 at Highway 10 and County Road QQ in the town of Oak Grove between a 2017 Mitsubishi Lan, driven by Shing Thao, 37, Ellsworth, and a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by Jacob Eugene Brinkman Peters, 20, Goodhue, Minn. Thao was heading east on Highway 10, while Peters was stopped at the stop sign on County Road QQ, pointing south. Peters said he didn’t see Thao due to his passenger sleeping and blocking his view. He entered the intersection and Thao struck his vehicle. Both vehicles had to be towed due to disabling damage. Thao and two juvenile passengers, ages 6 and 1, wore seat belts and reported possible injuries. They were not taken to a hospital. Peters and passengers Zachary W. Rowan, 19, Red Wing, Minn.; Allison Kathleen Olson Walker, 21, St. Paul; Eli John Hall, 19, Cannon Falls, Minn.; and Antonio David O’Brien, 25, Menomonie, wore seat belts and reported no injuries. Peters was cited for OWI and fail/yield right/way from stop sign.

Police responded to a one-vehicle crash at 9:35 p.m. Feb. 21 on Highway 63 just north of County Road Y in the town of Martell. A 2003 Buick LeSabre, driven by Vivian Marie Tulgren, 19, Clear Lake, was heading north when Tulgren lost control on the slippery road, slid sideways and struck a road sign. The vehicle was towed out of the ditch with functional damage. Tulgren wore a seat belt and reported no injuries.

Officers were called at 8:34 p.m. Feb. 22 to a one-vehicle crash on Highway 29 at Mary Lynn Drive in Spring Valley. A 2020 Ford Fusion, driven by Taylor Jo Hofacker, 18, Spring Valley, was heading west on Highway 29 going down the Spring Valley hill. Hofacker lost control on the hill, and began to go off the road, where the vehicle struck a guardrail face. The vehicle had minor damage. Hofacker was wearing a seat belt and reported no injuries.

Deputies responded to a one-vehicle crash at 9:07 p.m. Feb. 22 on Highway 35 just west of 1050th Street in the town of Oak Grove. A 2014 Subaru Outback, driven by Christian John Hansen, 19, Lake City, Minn., was traveling north on Highway 35. While negotiating a curve, the vehicle started to slide sideways and ended up in the ditch, causing damage to the front bumper. Hansen said when he went into the ditch, the road wasn’t plowed. However, officers could see skid marks and believed the road was indeed plowed. There was no road wash over the tracks entering the ditch. The vehicle had minor damage. Hansen wore a seat belt and reported no injuries.

Deputies responded to a one-vehicle crash at 10:12 a.m. Feb. 23 on Highway 35 just west of 1220th Street in the town of Oak Grove. A 2018 Nissan Rogue, driven by Rocio Gomez, 39, Minneapolis, was traveling north on Highway 35. A vehicle in front of Gomez started to lose control, so Gomez attempted to slow down and stop. He started to slide and lost control of his vehicle, struck a guardrail on the west side of the road and stopped. The vehicle had minor damage. Gomez, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries.

Officers responded to a one-vehicle crash at 10:12 a.m. Feb. 23 on Highway 35 just west of 1220th Street in the town of Oak Grove. A 2002 Honda Accord, driven by Emma Lucille Bjornson, 28, Hastings, Minn., was traveling north on Highway 35, attempting to navigate a right curve. The vehicle started to slide and rotate. It struck a guardrail on the west side of the road. The Honda had minor damage. Bjornson, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries.

Police were called to a one-vehicle crash at 11:11 a.m. Feb. 23 at 770th Street and Highway 35 in the town of Trenton. A 2011 Ford Escape, driven by Marcine Joy Christiansen, 69, Bay City, was heading north on Highway 35 an was making a left-hand turn onto 770th Street. The vehicle slid straight forward on the icy road, entered the ditch and struck a wooden stop sign post. The vehicle had minor damage. Christiansen wore a seat belt and reported no injuries.

Officers responded to a single tractor-trailer semi crash at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 on County Road F near 820th Avenue in the town of Clifton. A 2016 Freightliner tractor-trailer semi, operated by Feisal Axmed, 41, Minneapolis, was traveling south on County Road F when it lost control, crossed the center line, left the roadway and struck a utility pole in the east ditch. Allina Health EMS transported Axmed to Hudson Hospital with undisclosed injuries. River Falls Fire and Allina EMS assisted Pierce County Sheriff’s Office at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

Police responded to a vehicle vs. sign crash at 11:46 p.m. Feb. 24 on US Highway 63 at 850th Avenue in the town of Gilman. A 2016 Toyota Camry, driven by Douglas Neal Robertson, 18, Spring Valley, was going east on Highway 29 at the Highway 63 intersection. It was snowing and snow covered the roadway. Robertson said he didn’t see the stop sign right away. When he did, he hit his brakes and slid on the snow and ice into the east ditch south of 850th Avenue, where he struck a highway directional sign. The vehicle was towed and had minor damage. Robertson, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries; he was cited for driving too fast for conditions.

Officers were notified of a vehicle vs. stop sign crash at 7:31 a.m. Feb. 25 that had occurred at 6 a.m. at Highway 29 and 620th Street in the town of Martell. A 2021 Tesla, driven by Daniel Rodriguez, 24, Beldenville, was going east on Highway 29. The driver tried to slow in order to make a right-hand turn onto 620th Street, but lost control on the icy road and entered the ditch, where he struck a stop sign. The vehicle had minor damage and Rodriguez, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries.

Deputies responded at 9:54 a.m. Feb. 25 to a one-vehicle rollover on US Highway 63 just north of 810th Street in the town of Trenton. A 2008 Chevrolet Colorado, driven by Donald Frederick Hochmuth, 81, Frontenac, Minn., was heading north on Highway 63. Tire marks in the snow indicate the passenger side tires left the pavement, entered the deep snow in the ditch, causing the vehicle to overturn onto its roof. The truck was towed due to disabling damage. Hochmuth and passenger Chloe Jeanette Hochmuth, 81, Frontenac, Minn., both wore seat belts; an ambulance transported them to a Minnesota hospital with suspected minor injuries.

Police responded to a one-vehicle rollover at 3:18 p.m. Feb. 27 on County Road CC just south of 650th Avenue in the town of Rock Elm. A 2020 Ford Escape, driven by Mark Ely Salyards, 70, Maiden Rock, was heading south on County Road CC. When he crested the hill, he hit some slush in the road and lost control. The vehicle slid counter-clockwise across the road, entered the east ditch and overturned onto its passenger side. It then flopped back onto its wheels. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. An ambulance transported Salyards, who wore a seat belt, to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with suspected serious injuries. An ambulance transported passenger Pamela Kay Salyards, 64, Maiden Rock, to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin with suspected minor injuries.

Deputies were called at 4:45 p.m. Feb. 27 to a two-vehicle crash at W6543 County Road N in the town of Martell between a 2019 Hyundai Tucson, driven by Ronald Charles Reigle, 67, Ellsworth, and a 2005 Ford 500, driven by Angela K. Nelson, 49, Ellsworth. Reigle was heading west on County Road N and Nelson was following him. Reigle stopped just west of 650th Street for a short period of time, then continued on. He again slowed to a near-stop at the above address’ driveway with no signal nor sign that he was turning left. Nelson attempted to pass Reigle on the left in a no-passing zone, at which time Reigle turned left into his driveway and struck Nelson’s vehicle, causing it to spin out and go into the ditch. Reigle’s vehicle had minor damage, while Nelson’s was towed due to disabling damage. Reigle, Nelson and a passenger, Lynne Ann Reigle, 65, Ellsworth, all wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Officers were notified of a one-vehicle crash at 8:19 a.m. March 1 that had occurred at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at W6625 690th Ave. in the town of Martell. A 2015 Chevrolet 1500, driven by David Beach Candee, 32, Ellsworth, was going west on 690th Avenue. Candee said he attempted to turn around because he was lost, so he entered the driveway at the above address, but drove through the ditch and onto a culvert. He also struck two metal culvert markers. The vehicle had to be towed and had functional damage. Candee, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries.

Deputies responded at 5:35 a.m. March 1 to a vehicle vs. mailbox crash that had occurred at 4:30 a.m. at W363 850th Ave. in the town of Spring Lake. A 2009 Pontiac G6, driven by Peter A. Kassera, 35, Spring Valley, was traveling east on 850th Avenue just west of the residence when it crossed into the opposite traffic lane and struck the mailbox, before landing in the north ditch. The vehicle had minor damage. Kassera wore a seat belt and reported no injuries; he was cited for failure to keep vehicle under control and failure of operator to notify police of accident.

Officers were notified at 11:15 a.m. March 4 of a vehicle vs. tree crash that had occurred at 8 a.m. on 550th Avenue half-mile south of 1090th Street in the town of Oak Grove. A 2012 Buick Regal, driven by Seth Rex Slipka, 21, River Falls, was traveling east on 550th Avenue when it lost control on a curve, entered the south ditch and struck a group of trees. Slipka wore a seat belt and reported no injuries. The vehicle was towed and had functional damage.

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 6:01 p.m. March 4 at Highway 35 and 1050th Street in the town of Oak Grove between a 2016 Honda CRV, driven by Tami Ann MacGregor, 59, Prescott, and 2004 Honda Accord, driven by Violet Rae Mostek, 18, Blaine, Minn. MacGregor was northbound on Highway 35 when she signaled and slowed to make a left turn onto 1090th Street. She stopped in the lane to yield to oncoming traffic. Mostek, who was also heading north on Highway 35, rear-ended MacGregor. Mostek said he was looking up at the sky/sunset and didn’t see the vehicle stopped in front of him until it was too late. MacGregor’s vehicle had disabling damage but was not towed. She wore a seat belt and had suspected minor injuries, but declined EMS. Mostek’s vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. He wore a seat belt and reported no injuries. Mostek was cited for inattentive driving.

Police were called at 11:17 p.m. March 5 to a one-vehicle crash on Highway 65 six-tenths of a mile north of County Road W in the town of River Falls. A bystander reported the crash after the driver ran up to their car asking for a ride. When they refused, the driver apparently ran to other cars asking until he located a vehicle that picked him up and gave him a ride, turning onto County Road W. The vehicle, a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, was left parked in the middle of the southbound roadway with extensive damage. A guardrail was also heavily damaged. The next day, the driver, identified as Jesse Samuel Johnson, 42, Ellsworth, called police at 10 a.m. and reported that the road had been icy and that he had lost control, causing the car to go into a spin, hitting one guardrail before bouncing off and hitting another. He said he’d left the scene because he was wet and cold and wanted to get warm. He also said three deputies had driven past him while he was walking on the road and that he tried to flag them down, but was unsuccessful. Johnson said he then went into a building at a farm to stay warm until his ride arrived. The officer told him his statement had to be false, because one responded from the north and one from the south. When asked why he didn’t call police if he could call someone for a ride, he said he’d had one drink while out to eat, then stayed to watch music. The restaurant he reported eating at had closed at 8:30 p.m. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage and Johnson reported no injuries. He was cited for failure of operator to notify police of accident and hit and run – property adjacent to highway.

Deputies responded to a one-vehicle crash at 6:05 a.m. March 6 that had occurred at 2:45 a.m. on Highway 35 just west of 1050th Street in the town of Oak Grove. A 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Jonathon Ethan Maples, 34, St. Paul, was traveling north on Highway 35 when it lost control on the ice-covered road, crossed the center line and entered the south ditch, where it struck a group of trees and a culvert. Maples did not report the crash but came back to the scene later. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. Maples wore a seat belt and reported no injuries.