MONROE — A man was ejected and sustained life-threatening injuries when his milk truck crashed on an icy downhill curve of County J north of the city Saturday afternoon, Jan. 11, according to the Green County Sheriff’s Office.

He was still in critical condition at a Madison hospital the following morning, said Sgt. Britt Gempeler.

Gempeler said the sheriff’s office is withholding the man’s name for now but expects to release it pending an update from the hospital. The man’s wife did notify the sheriff’s office Sunday evening that her husband was talking, Gempeler said.

The accident happened shortly after 2 p.m. on County J north of Lightning Ridge Road, near the southern intersection with Buckskin Road in the Town of Monroe.

The driver was southbound negotiating a downhill curve when he lost control due to the ice-covered road surface. The unit spun around, crossed the centerline, collided with an embankment in the east ditch and rolled, causing the tank to separate from the truck.

The truck continued to roll and landed on its tires in the road. The full 3,500- to 4,000-gallon milk tank stayed upside down in the ditch and leaked. Gempeler was unsure how much milk leaked out but said crash reports indicate first responders were unable to stop the leak.

The driver was alone in the truck, not wearing a seatbelt and ejected in the crash. He was taken first to the Monroe Clinic ER, then later transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison.

Dan Smits, Monroe fire chief, was on scene and said the accident was “much worse” than it even sounded. He estimated the chassis cab landed 200 to 300 feet down the road from the tank. 

Green County EMS, Monroe police, the Monroe Fire Department, DNR wardens and the Green County Highway Department assisted deputies on scene. Officials were on scene about five hours. The tanker was later towed out of the ditch and is being stored at Al’s Towing in Darlington, according to Sgt. Gempeler.