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Icy-road wreck kills Monroe couple
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MONROE - A Monroe couple was killed Sunday following a two-vehicle accident on Wisconsin 80 in Grant County.

Albee J. Paulson, 62, and Sandra L. Paulson, 54, died after their vehicle hit a northbound semitrailer driven by Gary B. King, 63, Disney, Okla., at about 2:30 p.m. near Hazel Green.

The Wisconsin State Patrol reported Albee Paulson was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. They were unable to determine if Sandra Paulson was wearing a seat belt. King and his passenger, Judy King, 61, were wearing their seat belts and were not injured.

Icy road conditions caused several weekend accidents throughout Green County and slippery road forced three schools to open later than scheduled Monday.

Argyle, Black Hawk and Pecatonica schools were delayed two hours this morning due to slippery road conditions.

Green County Sheriff's deputies attributed the cause of at least five rollover accidents Saturday evening to drivers traveling too fast on the icy roads.

Rain started at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon and drizzled all night, icing over roads and sidewalks, and outpacing road crews.

County highway trucks were out early Saturday afternoon until about 11 p.m., and then again Sunday morning from 4 a.m. until 11 a.m.

But even with an application of pure salt, the ice wasn't budging.

"It was hard to get started," County Highway Commissioner Dallas Cecil said.

"We went out again at 1:30 p.m. (Sunday) and finally got it shook down with a 50/50 chip and salt mixture."

By 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Cecil said the state roads were in good shape, and most county roads had a "really wide wheel track" for people to follow.

"It was tiring," he said.

But the early freezing rain across the county caught drivers by surprise.

Three people were injured at about 7:45 p.m. Saturday on Wisconsin 11, one-half mile west of Steiner Road.

Nathan M. Troaj, 23, Browntown, lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a curve. The vehicle rolled over multiple times and came to stop on its wheels, receiving very severe damage. Troaj sustained an injury, as did the two passengers in the vehicle, Nichole I. Burke, 22, Browntown and Penny S. Masoumi, Vernon, Ala. They were transported to an area hospital.

Green County deputies, Wisconsin State Patrol, Browntown First Response, Browntown Fire, and Monroe County EMS responded to that accident.

Amanda M. Briggs, 17, Rock City, Ill., sustained an injury and was transported by private vehicle to an area hospital, after she lost control of her vehicle at about 9 p.m. Saturday in the N1800 Block of Wis. 69 south.

The vehicle traveled into the west ditch and rolled over onto its roof, receiving severe damage. The vehicle will be towed from the scene.

Alonzo E Riddle Jr., 33, Albany, was southbound on Wis. 104 south of King Road at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, when he lost control of the truck on the icy roadway. The truck slid across the road and entered the east ditch. It then slid sideways into the snow and rolled over once, coming to a stop on its wheels.

Riddle sustained an injury but refused treatment at the scene. The truck received very minor damage, but was towed from the scene.

David J. Nelsestun 52, Janesville, hit a patch of ice at about 7:45 p.m. Saturday, while coming down the hill in the W8700 block of County H in the Town of York. The vehicle started to skid, and as it turned sideways, it hit the shoulder of the road where it rolled over, coming to a stop on its roof on a fence.

Nelsestun stated he was not injured. The vehicle received moderate damage and was towed from the scene.

Green County deputies, Monticello Fire Department and Monroe EMS were dispatched to a one-vehicle rollover at about 8:45 p.m. Saturday, in Washington Township.

James R. Maurer, 48, Monroe, was traveling southbound on Wis. 69 south of Holloway Road when he lost control due to the icy road conditions. The vehicle spun 180 degrees, entered the ditch, over turned and came to a rest on its passenger side.

Maurer sustained no injuries. The vehicle received severe damage and was towed from the scene.

Two other accidents due to icy road conditions were recorded by the Green County Sheriff's Department between 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Cecil said he'd rather see snow than ice.

The next three days hold little hope for melting what ice remains, but it's cold enough to snow.

Monday's sunny high is expected to reach only 10 to 14 degrees, with overnight lows from 4 above to 1 below zero.

Temperatures creep up a bit to the mid- 20s by Tuesday. However, clouds roll in bringing a 40 percent chance of snow overnight. Temperatures return to the teens Wednesday and the chance of snow climbs to 50 percent by Wednesday night.