High-speed chase ends in crash
A police officer removes items from a van that was involved in a high-speed chase that ended in a crash Tuesday afternoon near the intersection of Highway 60 and Highway 18-35 in the town of Bridgeport. The van said, “Wild Thing Jet Boat.Com 1550 Wisconsin Dells Parkway” on its side. (Photo by Ted Pennekamp)
On Tuesday, May 8, at 12:54 p.m., the Crawford County Dispatch Center was notified by the Grant County Sheriff’s Department of a vehicle pursuit coming into Crawford County. Grant County advised the suspect was driving a white minivan with the Wisconsin Dells Duck logo on the side of the vehicle. Grant County advised that the vehicle was stolen and that they had received numerous complaints reference the vehicle driving erratically. Grant also said that the vehicle was westbound on Highway 60. Grant County ended their pursuit at that time. The Wauzeka-Steuben School was contacted and notified not to have children outside.
A member of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department driving an unmarked Chevrolet truck located the vehicle on Highway 60 near Gran Grae Road. The deputy observed the vehicle traveling at a speed of 90 mph or more. The deputy attempted to follow the vehicle when the suspect vehicle turned into a private drive. The deputy then blocked the driveway with his truck, activated his lights and identified himself to the suspect as a law enforcement officer. The suspect then came back toward the highway and struck the Sheriff’s Department truck and went around in the grass and got back onto the highway. At that point, a fully marked Crawford County Sheriff’s Department Squad got behind the suspect vehicle and activated his lights. The suspect vehicle failed to stop and continued to go at very high rates of speed west on Highway 60.
The Prairie du Chien Police Department went to the Highway 60 and Old Highway 60 intersection in attempt to set up stop sticks and channel the vehicle onto a rural road and away from the intersection with Highway 18. However, the driver nearly struck them head-on and they were unable to redirect the vehicle.
The suspect vehicle then continued on and went through the Highway 60 and Highway 18 intersection and struck a 2007 Chevrolet HHR operated by Kael A. Kilbey, 64, Woodman.
The operator of the suspect vehicle was identified as Danny J. Joles Jr., 30, believed to be from Eau Claire. Both Kilbey and Joles were transported to Crossing Rivers Health Emergency Room for medical treatment. Kilby was treated for numerous bruises and a back issue and later released. Joles was treated for head injuries and transported to La Crosse for observations. Both vehicles sustained severe disabling damage and had to be towed from the scene.
Joles was arrested for operating while under the influence (fourth offense) causing injury, operating while revoked causing injury, felony bail jumping, vehicle operator fleeing or eluding an officer, and operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent. Joles was also issued numerous traffic citations.
The Wisconsin State Patrol was called to do the accident investigation and they also reconstructed the accident.
Assisting the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department at the scene were the Prairie du Chien Police Department, Boscobel Police Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Bridgeport Fire and First Responders, Tri State Regional EMS, Bob’s Towing and Milo’s Towing.
