BELMONT — An Illinois woman is dead following a UTV crash on a Lafayette County trail this weekend. 

According to a press release from Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill, at about 5:33 p:m. on Saturday, May 3, the sheriff’s office received multiple 911 calls reporting a UTV crash on the Pecatonica Trail near Brunton Lane in the Town of Kendall. Sheriff’s deputies, Belmont EMS and Fire Department, as well as Southwest HealthAmbulance Service were paged and responded. 

“The investigation of the crash determined that a 2024 Kawasaki UTV being operated by Keith L. Konczak (50) of Utica, IL, was travelling eastbound on the Pecatonica Trail when Konczak lost control of the UTV,” Gill stated. “The UTV left the trail and overturned into the river near bridge #59. The passenger in the UTV, Wendy S. Baele (55), of Kewanee, IL, was found unresponsive upon arrival of first responding units. Life saving measures were taken by Belmont EMS, Southwest Health Ambulance Service as well as UW Medflight medical team. Unfortunately, Wendy Baele was declared dead at the scene.”

Konczak was transported to Southwest Health in Platteville by Belmont EMS, treated for non-life threatening injuries and later released.

Alcohol, speed and careless operation appear to be contributing factors to the crash. This investigation of this incident will be forwarded to the Lafayette County District Attorney’s Office for evaluation of possible charges. 

This incident remains under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with the assistance of the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office.