Posted on Apr 23, 2012
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office has reported that a traffic accident involving multiple motorcycles injured at least four riders on Sunday, March 18.

A little after 12:30 p.m., deputies from the Sheriff’s Department arrived at the crash site in the town of Dane, near the intersection of Fellows Road and County Highway P. Joining them were emergency responders from Middleton Paramedics, Waunakee EMS, Lodi EMS, and Med Flight.

Investigators determined that a group of 13 motorcycles carrying 18 people had been traveling north on Highway P, following a route from Fort Atkinson to Lodi. As the group approached Fellows Road, several riders collided as the lead motorcyclist slowed down to follow a sharp turn. Six motorcycles were involved in the collision.

Lt. Kerry Porter was quoted by reporters as saying, “It created a chain reaction. They were all traveling in such a tight group.”

Four of the riders required hospital treatment. Med Flight provided helicopter transportation for Jeffery A. Reuth, a 47-year-old Fort Atkinson resident, and 24-year-old Shane D. Vince Schmidt of Jefferson. Both men went to the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison. A spokesperson said their injuries were serious but not life-threatening.

Two other Fort Atkinson residents—Leslie Zimmerman, 47, and Mary Quiggly, 18—were transported by ambulance to University of Wisconsin Hospital; their injuries were termed “serious.”

The accident closed Highway P for almost three hours.

Lt. Dan Bolch said that the Dane County Sheriff’s office is still investigating the accident. There has been no official determination of the crash’s cause or contributing factors. Lt. Porter said that it does not appear that alcohol was a factor in the incident.

The Appleton personal injury attorneys of Hupy and Abraham send our deepest wishes for a quick and complete recovery for those injured in this unfortunate accident. We use this occasion to remind our neighbors that group riding on motorcycles can be a great way to enjoy Wisconsin, but special care is needed to coordinate the group and keep safety on everyone’s mind.