NEW GLARUS — Green County roadways went the first seven months in 2024 without a fatal accident. That all changed on the first day of the eighth month.

According to the Green County Sheriff’s Office, several 911 calls came in around 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1 reporting a motor vehicle crash on Wis. 69 north of Valley View Road, which is located just south of the Village of New Glarus.

New Glarus Fire Department, New Glarus EMS, Green County EMS and UW Med-Flight responded to the scene.  Sheriff’s deputies were assisted on scene by New Glarus Police. 

A preliminary investigation determined a semi unit was southbound on Wis. 69, waiting for oncoming traffic to turn into a business driveway on the east side of the highway. A pickup truck driven by a 52-year-old man from Shannon, Ill. was southbound behind the semi unit but failed to slow and collided with the rear of the semi trailer.  

New Glarus Fire Department extricated the driver of the pickup truck. Life-saving measures were administered on scene  but were ultimately unsuccessful and the driver of the pickup truck was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver’s name had not been released by press time.

The pickup truck sustained severe disabling damage and was towed from the scene. The airbags did deploy in the pickup truck. The driver was not wearing his seatbelt.  

The operator of the semi unit was a 54-year-old rural Monroe man. He was not injured, his seatbelt was used and the semi unit was driven from the scene.  

This is Green County’s first traffic fatality of 2024.