Serious Injuries in Car and Motorcycle Accidents in Sawyer and Ashland Counties

Serious and life-threatening injuries were caused in two motorcycle accidents this past Sunday in Sawyer and Ashland Counties.Photo byMy Northern Wisconsin

Motorcyclists are on the roads in full-force with the nice weather back for the spring, summer, and fall. Motorists are reminded to be mindful of motorcyclists while they are driving, especially when changing direction in traffic. Two recent accidents have produced serious and life-threatening injuries for two motorcyclists in Sawyer and Ashland Counties.

SAWYER COUNTY

At 2:11 p.m. on April 21, 2024, the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by Sawyer County EMS, Wisconsin State Patrol, and the Winter and Radisson Fire Departments, responded to a 911 call. The call was for a car and motorcycle crash which occurred on State Highway 70 approximately one mile east of Koeppler Road in the Township of Winter.

According to witnesses, a 2004 Cadillac sedan, driven by Erin Jones, 39, of Ojibwa, WI, was pulled over on the north shoulder of the westbound lane attempting to turn around. During her attempt, Erin turned into the path of a westbound 2001 Kawasaki motorcycle, which was operated by Daniel Barber, 57, of Hayward, WI. The motorcycle struck the front driver’s side of the car, which caused severe damage to both vehicles.

According to the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department, "The operator of the motorcycle suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown to a hospital in Duluth, MN. The extent of his injuries is unknown at this time.

"The operator of the passenger car was not injured and was arrested pending charges of Knowingly Operate a Motor Vehicle While Revoked Causing Great Bodily Harm and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia."

The accident is being investigated by the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

ASHLAND COUNTY

At approximately 2:24 p.m. on April 21, 2024, multiple 911 calls were received by the Ashland County Communications Center.  Reports were that a motorcycle and car crashed at the intersection of US Highway 2 and Maple Street in the Township of Sanborn.

Emergency services from the City of Ashland, Bad River Fire Department, and Ashland County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the accident. Mutual aid was requested from the City of Ashland Police Department.

According to the Ashland County Sheriff's Office, "Upon arrival, witnesses to the crash reported that the operator of the motorcycle was traveling westbound on US 2 when the operator of a Toyota Corolla, that was traveling eastbound, attempted to negotiate a left turn off of US 2 onto Maple Street and turned into the path of the motorcycle.

"The twenty-eight-year-old operator of the motorcycle sustained serious injuries and was transported from the scene by ambulance. The seventy-four-year-old operator of the Toyota Corolla did not sustain any serious injury."

The crash is under investigation by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office.

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