Four ejected in rollover crash
Rock County Sheriff's officials say four people were ejected from a vehicle following a one-vehicle rollover crash in Fulton Township.
Emergency crews responded to the crash at 11:00 p.m. Friday on Highway M, a half mile east of North Staff Road.
Investigators say a vehicle driven by Chad A. Hermanson, 24, of Edgerton, was traveling eastbound on Highway M when his vehicle entered the westbound lane of traffic to pass an eastbound vehicle driven by Hilary R. Hazlett, 21, of Evansville.
The investigation shows Hermanson’s vehicle accelerated to a high rate of speed as he was attempting to pass Hazlett, and an unidentified vehicle was believed to have been approaching and traveling westbound at the time. Hermanson completed the pass and when he pulled back into the eastbound lane of traffic, he lost control of his vehicle negotiating a curve, left the south side of the road, re-entered the roadway sliding sideways, over corrected and entered the south shoulder again, causing the vehicle to roll over multiple times.
Hermanson and his passengers, Wade T. Janes,24, of Evansville, Nicholas A. Manion, 24, of Evansville, and Ashley J. Tomlin, 23, of Madison were all ejected from the vehicle.
Hermanson was transported to Mercy Hospital in Janesville, and later transported to UW-Hospital in Madison with spinal injuries, where he is listed in stable condition. Hermanson was arrested for causing great bodily harm by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, causing great bodily harm by reckless driving, unreasonable and imprudent speed and failure to fasten seat belt.
Manion was transported to Mercy Hospital with head injuries, a collapsed lung and dislocated hip. He is listed in stable condition. Tomlin was transported to Mercy Hospital with head and neck injuries, a broken pelvis, and a dislocated hip. She is also in stable condition. Janes was transported to Edgerton Hospital with head injuries and a dislocated hip. His condition was unavailable. All three passengers were cited for seat belt violations.
Investigators say Hazlett’s vehicle was not involved in the crash, however, she stopped because she was traveling with Hermanson’s vehicle, as the subjects are all friends of one another. Hazlett began hyperventilating at the scene and passed out. She was transported to Edgerton Hospital and arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (2nd offense) and failure to fasten seat belt.
The crash closed Highway M between Indianford and Fulton for approximately five hours and the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to help reconstruct the scene.
During the reconstruction of the crash, a vehicle driven by Peter J. Helgesen, 23, of Evansville, attempted to drive through the scene traveling westbound on Highway M. Investigators say Helgesen drove around two squads blocking the highway and his vehicle was stopped prior to reaching the debris field.
Helgesen was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (2nd Offense), operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration and was taken to the Rock County Jail. Helgesen’s passenger, Michael J. Morton, 20, of Albany, was cited for Underage Drinking (2nd Offense) and released to his mother at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation at this time and further charges may be pending. If anyone has information on the unidentified vehicle traveling westbound, please call the Rock County Communications Center at (608) 757-2244.
