Semi snags power line
On Thursday, Sept. 14, at 2:20 a.m., the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a one-vehicle traffic crash on East Third Street at Talbot Street in the village of Wauzeka.
A 2014 International semi operated by Luke C. Kilmer, 21, Stoddard, struck a low hanging line from an overhead power pole. Kilmer and his passenger, Jeremy J. Hershey, 40, La Crosse, were eastbound on East Third Street when the trailer on the semi got hooked on a low hanging phone cable. The cable hooked onto the trailer as they were driving which caused the light pole to fall on top of the semi. Live power lines were then lying near the top of the semi and trailer. The semi was leaving from a delivery at the Wauzeka-Steuben School.
The low phone cable was due to recent storms which caused trees to fall on the line. The trees were removed but the line was hanging lower than previously. The semi, which normally had no issues passing through previously, was not able to without snagging the cable. Both driver and passenger exited the vehicle prior to arrival of first responders.
Hershey and Kilmer were not injured in the crash. It is strongly recommended not to exit a vehicle near or around downed power lines.
Assisting the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department were the Wauzeka Fire Department, the Wauzeka First Responders, Alliant Energy, MG&E Gas Company, the village of Wauzeka, Wauzeka-Steuben Public Schools and Century Link.
