On September 30, 2023 at 9:58 AM the Grant County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a suspicious vehicle parked along Cty B near Stanton Rd, on the shoulder, opposite side of the road. The caller reported that it looked like the vehicle struck a deer and there was no one around. The investigating deputy arrived and was able to determine that the vehicle had struck a deer at the intersection, continued westbound, crossed the center line, left the road to the south, and eventually struck a utility pole with the driver’s side front corner of the car. The deputy contacted the registered owner of the car who admitted he had been going to work at about 6:30 AM, driving about 65 MPH, adjusting his mirrors, when the deer entered the road. He said he thought he blew a tire, not seeing the deer. The vehicle left the road, struck the pole, and then came to rest on the road surface. The driver said he and a passerby were able to push the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The driver was identified as Walter Bates, 28, of Tehachapi, CA. His car, a 2020 Ford EcoSport, sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene by Arrow Towing of Lancaster. Bates’ driving status was revoked in Wisconsin and he was cited for Operating After Revocation.
On October 1, 2023 at 2:34 PM the Grant County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call of a one vehicle, rollover crash, on Hwy 81 near Cty D, in Platteville Township. The caller reported the car was upside down and the driver was injured. The investigating deputy learned that Jesse Juisto, 41, of Platteville, was driving a 2004 Acura going west on Hwy 81 just passing Cty D. The tire marks on the road indicated that Juisto’s vehicle left the road to the right just past Cty D, continued on the shoulder a short distance, crossed the center line and then back across the westbound lane, and into the ditch where the vehicle caught and then rolled over, landing on the roof. Juisto was able to get out of the vehicle on his own. When the deputy talked to him, he admitted he was going “way too fast and being stupid.” He also admitted to drinking multiple beers not long before the crash. After a investigation, Juisto was arrested for OWI, 1st Offense. Juisto was transported by EMS to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries from the crash. At the hospital, the deputy issued the OWI citation and then requested a legal blood draw. Juisto was eventually released to a responsible party. The evidentiary blood sample was sent to the state hygiene lab for analysis and the Sheriff’s Office is awaiting the results of that test. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Southwest Health EMS as well as the Platteville Fire Department.
On October 2, 2023 at approximately 11:51 am, Scott Sautter, 25 of Prairie Du Chien, was driving a 1992 Freightliner silage truck west bound on HWY 18 in MT Ida Township. Nathan Dates, 33 of Milwaukee, was driving a 2020 Hino straight truck west bound on HWY 18. The silage truck was making a left hand turn into a field road. Nathan did not see the truck and tried to swerve at the last moment. Nathan struck the rear of the silage truck. Nathan was trapped in the truck and had to be extricated by Fennimore Jaws. Nathan was transported to the hospital by Fennimore EMS and was later Med Flighted for his injuries. Nathan’s truck had severe front end damage. Scott was not injured and his vehicle sustained moderate rear end damage. Nathan will be cited for inattentive driving. Assisting at the scene was Fennimore Fire and EMS, State Patrol, Grant County HWY Dept, and B&M Towing.