MONROE — The post-Christmas snow in the area created plenty of headaches for Green and Lafayette County drivers, apparently unaccustomed to slippery conditions that normally occur much sooner in the winter season with more snow.
According to Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill, there were several slide-offs on the roads, but “maybe not as many as would normally occur during a first snow. People just have to be aware of pending problematic road conditions and allow more time for travel.”
In Green County, the fun started early with the large snowflakes falling and accumulating on rural roads. By about 7:52 a.m., Green County deputies — along with Brodhead Police officers — responded to the W1600 block of County F, Town of Decatur, for a single vehicle crash. In that incident, investigations found that a car driven by Michael J. Keller, 43, of Brodhead, was eastbound on County F when he lost traction negotiating a curve.
“Keller reported losing traction due to the snow-covered roadway,” said a statement from the Green County Sheriff’s Office. “Keller’s vehicle entered the ditch and struck a pole.”
As a result, Keller and his passengers Ariel Sabita Anna Marti, 34, of Brodhead, and Christopher A. Keller, 49, of Brodhead, reported no injuries. They were wearing their seatbelts, and there was airbag deployment in the crash. Keller’s vehicle had disabling damage and was towed from the scene.
A little later, just after 8:20 a.m., deputies along with Monroe Rural Fire Department and Green County EMS, responded to the W5800 block of County P, Town of Clarno, for a single-vehicle crash with injuries reported.
Investigators found that Lasondriana Schulte, 34, of Browntown, was negotiating a curve when she lost control due to the snow/ice covered road. Her vehicle entered the north ditch and then struck a retaining wall. Schulte and her two juvenile passengers reported wearing their seatbelts/child-safety restraints and there was no airbag deployment. Schulte’s vehicle sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene.
The snow was heavier to the west of the area, with Lafayette County logging plenty of minor accidents during the Thursday storm, according to Gill.
Those include such incidents as when a Lafayette County deputy responded to U.S. 151 in Belmont Township for a one-vehicle crash during the evening commute just after 5:20 p.m. According to reports, Sadiki Yabeshi, 22, of Baltimore, lost control of his vehicle and slid into the ditch. Yabeshi escaped serious injury, but his 2018 Honda was damaged and pulled from the ditch.
In all, Lafayette County saw six accidents on the day, with several other vehicles disabled or ending up in a ditch. Gill said drivers need to take winter driving seriously and prepare for changing conditions.
“…People need to make sure their vehicles are adequately prepared for winter driving conditions,” said Gill in an email. “Too often we find a vehicle in the ditch, and the tires on the vehicle have little to no tread left.”
The City of Monroe also saw weather-related accidents, including just after 7:30 a.m., when officers were called to a two-vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of 23rd Avenue and 13th Street. Police said a vehicle operated by Landin A. Heiler, 20, of Lena, was northbound on 23rd Avenue, failed to stop for a stop sign at 13th Street, and collided with a vehicle driven by Matthew P. Boruszewski, 30, of Roscoe, Illinois, which was eastbound on 13th Street. Both vehicles sustained “non-functional damages” according to police, and were towed. Boruszewski reported minor injuries, was evaluated at the scene by Green County EMS and declined transport. Heiler was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign and released pending a court appearance.
To help get through the rest of winter without an incident, Gill also cautioned drivers to slow down and maintain proper spacing between cars.
Both Gill and Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud have said they are coming off a busy 2023 with a high number of fatalities and don’t want to see the situation repeat or get worse in 2024.