PIERCE COUNTY Accident Reports

At 4:25 a.m. July 26, deputies responded to a one-vehicle crash on Highway 65 just north of 610th Avenue in the town of Ellsworth. A 2008 Chevy Cobalt, driven by Benjamin Kelln Jr., 56, Ellsworth, was traveling northbound on Highway 65 when Kelln had a medical issue causing him to lose control of the vehicle. It crossed the center line, entered the west ditch, went airborne for about 30 feet after hitting a field drive and came to rest facing west at the edge of a corn field. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. Kelln was taken by EMS to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with possible injuries. He was not wearing a seat belt.

At 1:41 p.m. July 29, officers were called to a one-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 63 in the town of Trenton. A 2002 Chevy Silverado, driven by Thomas Francis Bowe, 71, Red Wing, Minn., was heading northbound on Highway 63 approaching the ramp onto Highway 35. When he turned right onto the ramp, he left the roadway and struck a roadway sign. Eventually, the vehicle stopped in Bay City where police learned the driver was having a medical emergency. The vehicle had minor damage. Bowe, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries from the crash.

At 2:12 p.m. Aug. 1, police responded to a one-motorcycle crash on County Road UU near 100thAvenue in the town of Maiden Rock. A 2011 Harley Davidson Fat Boy, operated by

Christiana Ballard Maxson, 53, Mantorville, Minn., was southbound on County Road UU. When she attempted to negotiate a curve, she went off the road to the right. When she tried to get back onto the road, the bike overturned. The motorcycle had functional damage. Maxson, who wore no helmet or protective gear, was taken by EMS to a Minnesota hospital with suspected minor injuries.

At 3:15 p.m. Aug. 1, deputies responded to a motorcycle vs. vehicle crash on Highway 35 just east of 150th Aven in Bay City between a 1999 Chevy S-10, driven by Scott Jerome Christenson, 64, Bay City, and a 2009 Harley Davidson FLHX, driven by Robert Scott Roche, 61, Rochester, Minn. Christenson was traveling southeast on Highway 35 and slowed/stopped to make a left-hand turn into the driveway at W6484 Highway 35. Roche was behind Christenson and struck the back of his S-10, causing his motorcycle to tip over on its right side. Roche said Christenson did not have operating brake lights or turn signals. Christenson said he had been having mechanical issues with those lights, which is why he put his arm out the window to signal he was making a left-hand turn. The S-10 had minor damage, while the Harley had functional damage. Christenson, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries. Roche, who wore boots, jacket and long pants, but no helmet, had suspected minor injuries but declined an ambulance. Christenson was cited for operating a motor vehicle without insurance.

At 3:16 p.m. Aug. 1, police were notified of a one-vehicle crash that had occurred around 10 p.m. July 31 at 490th Avenue and 810th Street in the town of Trimbelle. A 2018 Bomb Spyder, driven by Kimberly Laura Tapager, 49, Ellsworth, was traveling westbound on 490th Avenue when it went through the intersection, left the road, entered the ditch and 40 yards later entered a wooded area and crashed head-on into a tree. No one was on the scene when the property owner located the threewheeled motorcycle. Police called Tapager, the bike’s owner, and said she had had one alcoholic drink. She said she must have been going too fast and missed the turn. She told police she was in the hospital with broken ribs, scrapes and bruises. The motorcycle had to be towed due to disabling damage. Tapager was cited for failure of operator to notify police of accident, failure to keep vehicle under control and non-registration of auto.

At 8:01 p.m. Aug. 1, officers were called to a one-vehicle crash on 770th Avenue just west of 910th Street in the town of River Falls. A 2005 Ford F150, operated by Andrew Allen Ziegler, 39, River Falls, was traveling westbound on 770th Avenue when he ran off the roadway, entered the ditch on the north side of the road, struck a tree, then continued on in the ditch before striking another tree. Ziegler exited the vehicle and fled on foot from the scene. The truck had to be towed due to disabling damage. Ziegler was cited for failure of operator to notify police of accident, failure to keep vehicle under control, operate motor vehicle without insurance and vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt. Alcohol use is suspected.

At 11:51 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, PCSO deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash with injuries on U.S. Highway 10 near County Road QQ in the town of Oak Grove between a 2013 Kia Soul, driven by Diana Ristow, 82, Ellsworth, and a 2007 Mercedes Benz SL3, driven by Dwight Nelson, 70, River Falls. Ristow was traveling eastbound on Highway 10 and attempting to pass another vehicle near the County Road QQ intersection when she met Nelson, who was traveling southbound on County Road QQ and turned westbound onto Highway 10. Nelson did not see Ristow making the passing maneuver and struck her vehicle on its driver’s side. Both drivers were transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with undetermined injuries. Prescott Police Department, River Falls Area Ambulance Service and Prescott Fire Department assisted at the scene.

At 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash with injury on U.S. Highway 10 at County Road A in the town of Salem. A 2010 Jeep Liberty, operated by Martin Wright, 53, Maiden Rock, was traveling westbound on Highway 10 when he lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve, crossed the center line and entered the south ditch. Wright was transported to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing, Minn., with undisclosed injuries. Ellsworth area Ambulance Service, Ellsworth Fire Department and Wisconsin State Patrol assisted PCSO as the scene.