Two injured in early morning crash
CLINTON Emergency crews tried for nearly a half hour early Friday morning to locate two people injured in a rollover crash 2 miles east of Clinton on Interstate 43.
The passenger in the rolled sport-utility vehicle called 911 from her cell phone. A dispatcher in Walworth County answered the call at 3:01 a.m.
The woman gave the dispatcher an approximate location, and the dispatcher sent emergency crews, but GPS technology at the dispatch center could not pinpoint the crash site. The dispatcher kept the woman on the phone until 3:19 a.m., a spokesperson for the Walworth County dispatch center said.
The woman hung up and called 911 again. This time, a dispatcher in Rock County answered the call at 3:23 p.m. The Rock County center was able to pinpoint the location of the caller using GPS information from the caller’s cell phone.
Emergency crews arrived within five minutes.
The weather and location of the vehicle hampered rescue efforts, Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Brandon Ferrell said.
“The vehicle was way off the road, and access was difficult. Extrication took a long time,” he said. The driver, John Watters, 44, and his passenger, Bonita Wheeler, 45, both of Machesney Park, Ill., were extricated after the roof was cut off, Ferrell said. They were treated and released at Beloit Memorial Hospital.
Watters was driving west at about 3 a.m. when he switched lanes and lost control of his 1995 Ford Explorer at Carvers Rock Road between Darien and Clinton, Ferrell said. The SUV crossed the shoulder and hit the end of a guard rail, breaking off six guard rail posts before rolling twice and landing in the ditch, he said.
Watters will be cited for driving too fast for conditions, Ferrell said.
Oct 24, 2009 at 9:13 a.m.
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I got this off yahoo alittle while ago.Driving while raining,snowing,on dark surface roads wear sunglasses. Recently while driving,raining like crazy I did wear sunglasses,I could see way better.Before you laugh,try this.
Oct 24, 2009 at 1:39 a.m.
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I am SO happy that I did not read this was a consequence of drinking and driving. I was actually holding my breath the whole time I was reading this waiting for that to be written. Thank heavens for once an early morning accident, was just that, an accident. And of course they are going to find some reason to ticket....and we really don't know what the speed was, they truly may have been speeding in the construction zone, which is hazardous, and hopefully being ticketed for it, will promote safe driving in the future.
Oct 23, 2009 at 8:32 p.m.
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I'm just glad the pair was not injured more badly. And, I agree with the comment regarding blacktop. Roads and driving can be bad, but walking on icy blacktop parking lots is even worse.
Oct 23, 2009 at 2 p.m.
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Of COURSE the driver deserved a ticket, at LEAST one.
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Its about time people that endanger the lives of others with 3000 pound(or more)objects get held accountable for their actions.
Oct 23, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
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So if your driving too fast for conditions and the accident is your fault the cops should just let you off???
Oct 23, 2009 at 12:11 p.m.
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Yes, tickets, gotta make money after all. Kickin'em while they're down was just a side benefit I guess, 'cuz next they'll get a bill for gaurdrail replacement.
Oct 23, 2009 at 11:31 a.m.
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They had forgotten to mention that this was in the juristiction of the Clinton Fire Dept and that clinton F.D. responded to this scene
Oct 23, 2009 at 11:10 a.m.
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Driving on this New Blacktop Sucks , I drive Alot and the difference driving on concrete and Blacktop is Night and Day ... Dark Rainey conditions on Blacktop is Horrific .There is so much Glare from headlights and UGH , Makes me wanna Quit Driving in the rain and dark !
Oct 23, 2009 at 10:02 a.m.
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They were actually located by the sound of the sirens of the squad cars, after the first one went past the accident.
Oct 23, 2009 at 8:48 a.m.
Oct 23, 2009 at 8:32 a.m.
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the tickets, or lack of, are what the lawyers hang their hats on.
Oct 23, 2009 at 8:29 a.m.
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Always a ticket for something and yes that is a dark and eerie stretch on 43. No matter what other drivers think or feel I will drive safe and if they don't like it to bad.
Oct 23, 2009 at 7:40 a.m.
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I drove that route to Milwaukee yesterday morning and came back last night after dark and driving in the rain in that construction, to me, was scary. Especially around the Clinton/Beloit area. It may be regulation, but to me it is very narrow. I was driving 48-50mph in a 55 zone and didn't feel safe. I would've liked to have slowed down even more, but I know that I was irritating the people behind me and didn't want to cause an accident that way either. My prayers go out to the people and families of the injured.
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