JUDA — Authorities are still investigating the cause of a single-vehicle crash that left one occupant dead and another seriously injured in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Green County Sheriff’s Office released information about an accident just before 4 a.m. on Wisconsin 11 near County S in Jefferson Township. Sheriff Mark Rohloff said Monday that Steven Lee Moon, 55, Monroe, was driving a 1993 Dodge Dakota eastbound on Wis. 11 with a passenger, David Scott Eldred, 54, also of Monroe.

According to initial investigation, the truck left the road and entered the ditch, only to return to the highway and veer across, entering the north ditch before rolling over several times. The vehicle was towed from the scene due to severe damage. 

Both Moon and his passenger were ejected from the vehicle. When responders arrived, Eldred was found dead. Rohloff said alcohol may have been a factor in the cause of the crash, noting there was evidence Moon was intoxicated. 

Initially, Moon was transported via ambulance to Monroe Clinic for his injuries. Rohloff said Moon was conscious when authorities arrived and spoke to police about the accident beforehand. He was later transported to UW Hospital in Madison. 

Drivers along the highway were detoured for hours following the crash. Wis. 11 re-opened just before 11 a.m. Friday. Rohloff said the road was closed because authorities initially thought there had been a third person in the truck. Moon had told police he thought there was another passenger, warranting a “substantial” search of the tall grass at the scene. Cadaver dogs were on scene, brought in by Madison Police to potentially locate another crash victim, but nothing was found.

Wisconsin State Patrol conducted an accident reconstruction. The investigation remains ongoing.