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Another fatal crash at problem intersection
Area slated to be redesigned for safety by 2026
Fatality SirenBKG

MONROE — With plans to correct the danger of a problem intersection still more than a year away, that crossroads near Brodhead claimed another life Sunday night in a head-on crash that also injured several others.

The latest crash was at about 10:50 p.m. on June 22 and involved two cars at Wis. 81 just east of County T, in the Town of Avon, according to a statement from the Rock County Sheriff's Office.

"The investigation revealed a Nissan Sentra operated by a 26-year-old male from Winnebago, IL was driving eastbound on W Hwy 81," the statement said. "A Ford F350 operated by a 30-year-old male from Marion, IA was driving westbound on W Hwy 81, when he crossed the center line and went into the wrong lane of travel."

The statement said that the Ford attempted to perform "a corrective maneuver" to get back into the westbound lane of travel but was unable to do so. 

"The Ford struck the Nissan head on," the statement said.

Those riding in the Ford — police reports did not initially say how many — were rushed to local hospitals and were treated for "serious but non-life-threatening injuries."

Wis DOT 81-T exhibit
Plans to turn the Wis. 81 and County T intersection that borders Green and Rock counties into a roundabout is scheduled for construction in 2026, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The Nissan driver from Illinois was pronounced dead. The name of the deceased will later be released by the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The crash investigation is ongoing, police added.

The intersection is known for its danger and dozens of accidents in recent years. Several drivers were killed there in 2024.

There were 13 crashes reported there from 2015-2019, including one fatality. Failure to yield or failure to stop right-angle crashes were the cause of 62% of the accidents there, according to the  Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

In 2023, the nearby Wis. 11/81 and County GG intersection — with a large fatality sum of its own — was turned into a four way stop.

Launched in 2023, the latest plans for the 81/T intersection include a roundabout redesign to make driving through safer, with construction anticipated for 2026.

The Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office, Rock County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team, Rock County Highway Shop, Green County Sheriff’s Office, City of Evansville Police Department, and Brodhead Fire/EMS all assisted with the incident.