PIERCE COUNTY Accident Reports

Deputies were called to a motorcycle crash at 1:16 p.m. Aug. 4 on 370th Avenue just north of Old County Road A in the town of Salem. A 2000 Kawasaki VN1500, driven by Terry Lane Herring, 73, Farmington, Minn., was traveling westbound on 370th Avenue. When he attempted to negotiate a curve, he left the roadway after the curve on the north side of the road, traveled through the ditch and overturned. Herring was thrown from the motorcycle, but was able to stand upright before officers arrived. An ambulance transported him to a Minnesota hospital with suspected minor injuries. He wore a three-quarter helmet, boots, jacket and long pants. The motorcycle had minor damage.

Police responded to a one-vehicle crash at 11:45 p.m. Aug. 9 on County Road O near 650th Avenue in the town of River Falls. A 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by

Nicholas Sherman Olson, 30, Ellsworth, was traveling southbound on County Road O approaching a right curve. Olson failed to maintain control around the curve, entered the east ditch, struck several trees and came to rest against several trees, becoming stuck. Olson said he swerved to miss a deer, and knew he was supposed to contact law enforcement before leaving the scene, but didn’t. Olson, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries. His vehicle had to be towed due to disabling damage. He was cited for failure of operator to notify police of accident and failure to keep vehicle under control.

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 4:43 p.m. Aug. 10 on County Road F .4 miles north of County Road FF in the town of Clifton between a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, driven by Esther Joy Steenlage Maruani, 44, Saint Louis Park, Minn., and a 2020 Chevrolet 2500, driven by Gwilym Joseph Rewey, 42, North St. Paul, Minn. Maruani was traveling northbound on County Road F down the Clifton Hollow hill. Rewey had just turned off of County Road FF and was heading northbound onto County Road F and descended the same hill. Maruani said she decided to turn around to go southbound, signaled a left-hand turn into a state park parking lot and began to make her turn. Rewey said Maruani signaled the left turn but slammed on her brakes at the last minute, and he was unable to avoid hitting her vehicle. Rewey said he tried to steer right but he hit Maruani’s right rear corner as she turned. Maruani said Rewey was following too closely. Rewey’s vehicle came to rest on the east shoulder of the road, while Maruani made it into the parking lot. Both drivers and two juvenile passengers in Maruani’s vehicle wore seat belts and reported no injuries. Rewey’s vehicle had to be towed due to disabling damage. Maruani’s vehicle had functional damage.

Deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash at 4:54 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Highway 35/63 intersection in Hager City between a 2015 Kia Sedona, driven by Olivia Lorraine Jackson, 18, Eau Claire, and a 2006 Ford Focus, driven by Steven Carl Barnhart, 31, Pepin. Jackson was traveling south on Highway 63, entered the intersection from a stop and was struck by Barnhart, who was traveling northbound on Highway 63 preparing to turn left onto Highway 35. Barnhart entered the intersection after Jackson, but continued to try and complete his turn, striking Jackson’s vehicle. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries; both vehicles had to be towed due to disabling damage. Barnhart was cited for failure to yield right of way.

Deputies responded to a semi-vs. vehicle crash at 9:54 a.m. Aug. 11 at Highway 10 and County Road QQ in the town of Oak Grove between a 2017 Cadillac CTS, driven by Regina Crowley, 74, Sun City West, Ariz., and a 2022 Volvo Semi, driven by Michael Ray Shereck, 50, Albertville, Minn. Crowley was traveling north on County Road QQ approaching the Highway 10 intersection, while the semi-trailer was heading west on Highway 10. Crowley had a stop sign, but allegedly did not make a full and complete stop before pulling out in front of the semi, which struck her. Crowley said she didn’t remember the crash. Both vehicles came to rest in the northwest ditch of County Road QQ at the intersection. Both drivers wore seat belts. Crowley went to a hospital by private vehicle with possible injuries. Shereck reported no injuries; his passenger, Tyler Robert Clouse, 28, Delano, Minn., reported no injuries and also wore a seat belt. Both vehicles were towed due to disabling damage.

Deputies were called to a one-vehicle rollover at 4:20 a.m. Aug. 13 near W6548 U.S. Highway 63 in the town of Trimbelle. A 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander, driven by

Lilia Harina Gualain, 27, River Falls, was traveling southbound on Highway 63. Gualain fell asleep, veered right, entered the ditch, lost control and rolled. The vehicle landed on its roof. Gualain, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. Gualain was cited for operate without valid license, failure to keep vehicle under control and operate motor vehicle without insurance.

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 4:43 p.m. Aug. 14 on Highway 65 just south of County Road W in the town of River Falls between a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Philip Todd Strop, 52, River Falls, and a 2016 GMC Yukon, driven by Elliot Paul Niesl, 38, Hudson. Strop, who was heading northbound, slowed for a motorcycle that was turning right onto County Road W. Niesl, who was behind Strop, rear-ended Strop’s vehicle. Niesl said he did not see that traffic had slowed. Both drivers wore seat belts. Strop reported no injuries, while Niesl reported possible injuries but was not transported. Passengers in Niesl’s vehicle all wore seat belts and reported no injuries, including

Lacey Lee Niesl, 32, Hudson; a 5-yearold, a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old and an 11month old. Strop’s Jeep had functional damage, while Niesl’s Yukon had to be towed due to disabling damage.