DARLINGTON — Area deputies responded to several serious crashes over the holiday weekend in Lafayette County, sending multiple people to the hospital with serious injuries.

There were no fatalities in either crash, according to officials.

The first crash happened on Sunday, Sept. 1 just before 4:50 p.m., on US 151 in Belmont Township. 

According to the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, Aaron J. Hendrickson, Sr., 44, Blanchardville, reportedly lost control of his vehicle, entered the shoulder and over-corrected, causing his vehicle to then leave the road and go into a ditch where it rolled several times, finally coming to a stop against a rock wall. 

“Hendrickson sustained severe injuries and was transported to Southwest Health Center where he was then airlifted to UW Health,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Hendrickson’s 2004 Toyota received “disabling damage” and was towed from the scene. Hendrickson, police said, was cited for Failure to Wear Seatbelt, Failure to Maintain Designated Lane, Failure to Maintain Control, Open Intoxicants, Operating after Suspension, and Operating While Intoxicated (2nd Offense).

The second crash happened a few hours later Sunday, just after 7:05 p.m. That is when the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a crash with injuries and entrapment on County F near the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Road in the Town of Fayette.

Authorities said an investigation determined that Darlin Rene Moncada-Ortez, 20, of Darlington, and Maycol Martin Rodriguez, 17, also of Darlington, were northbound on County F in a 2004 Toyota Camry Solara, when the car left the road and went onto the gravel shoulder on the east side of the road. 

“The driver appears to have over corrected and lost control of the vehicle, crossing over the southbound lane of traffic and striking the guardrail and bridge abutment of the bridge that crosses Otter Creek,” the sheriff’s office said in its statement. “The vehicle came to rest on the bridge in the southbound lane of traffic.”

Both male occupants of the vehicle were partially ejected and suffered life-threatening injuries.

Moncada-Ortez was transported by Mineral Point EMS to Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County and then airlifted to UW Hospital. Rodriguez was airlifted from the crash scene to UW Hospital.   

“Speed, alcohol and a failure to wear a seatbelt are suspected of contributing to the crash,” the statement said, adding that the crash remains under investigation.

Belmont EMS, Belmont Fire, Southwest Health EMS, UW Med-Flight, and Lafayette County Highway Department responded to the first crash. At the second crash, The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Darlington Fire Department, Lafayette County EMS, Mineral Point EMS, Argyle Ambulance Service, Darlington Police Department, Lafayette County Highway Department, UW Med-Flight and Flight For Life. 

Wisconsin State Patrol Crash Reconstruction Team also is assisting the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office.