GRATIOT — An Orangeville teenager was hospitalized following a crash with a semi-tractor trailer late last week.

On Friday, March 27, at 2:43 p.m., the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a motor vehicle crash involving a semi-tractor trailer vs. a pickup truck at the intersection of County KK, County DD and South Prairie Road, Town of Gratiot, Lafayette County. 

Lafayette County Sheriff’s Deputies, Gratiot First Response and Gratiot Fire, along with Green County EMS and Warren (Ill.) Ambulance Service were immediately dispatched. 

The investigation of the crash revealed that a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, driven by Jeremy A. Eicher, 19, of Orangeville, Ill., was traveling eastbound on South Prairie Road, when he failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of County KK. Eicher’s truck traveled into the path of a northbound 2007 Kenworth semi-tractor trailer operated by Jimmy Lee Klenz, 48, of Brodhead. Klenz was unable to avoid striking the pickup, causing the pickup to rollover before both vehicles came to rest in the ditch at the northeast corner of the intersection. 

Klenz was transported by ambulance to SSM Monroe Hospital in Monroe with minor injuries and later released. Eicher received life saving measures at the scene by first responders as well as UW Medflight doctors at the scene, before being airlifted to UW Hospital in Madison. 

Eicher’s pickup truck sustained extreme damage and was towed from the scene. Klenz’ semi-tractor trailer sustained moderate damage and was also towed from the scene. 

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Warren (Ill.) Police Department, Gratiot Fire and First Responders, Green County EMS, Warren (Ill.) Area Ambulance Service, Lafayette County Highway Department and Wisconsin State Patrol.