____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

News Release

Date – March 22, 2012, 3:00 P.M.
Type – Update to Pedestrian accident which occurred on 3-16-2012
Location – City of Tomah, Superior Ave at Milwaukee Street

On March 16, 2012 at approximately 4:30PM, the Tomah Police Department received numerous phone calls regarding two pedestrians that had been struck by a vehicle.

Officers were able to determine that two 15-year-old pedestrians were crossing Superior Ave., within a crosswalk, at the intersection of Superior Ave. and Milwaukee St.  The two pedestrians were in the southbound lanes portion of Superior Ave. when they were struck by a white-in-color work truck.

Both 15-year-old pedestrians were transported to Tomah Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

As a result of the investigation a statement was obtained from another driver who indicated that he was traveling northbound and nearly struck the two pedestrians as they ran through the crosswalk in front of his vehicle.

A video was obtained from a local business which recorded the accident as it occurred.  The video shows the two pedestrians taking two to three steps into the northbound traffic lanes.  After taking two or three steps the two pedestrians began running across the northbound lanes and into the southbound lanes.

As they crossed the first southbound lane they ran in front of a vehicle that was stopped on Superior Avenue waiting to turn onto East Milwaukee Street.    They continued running into the second southbound lane and were struck by the truck.  The truck immediately stopped.

Based upon the video and evidence gathered at the scene the Tomah Police Department was able to determine that the truck had been traveling approximately 27 to 28 mph.

The operator of the truck, 29 year old Chad Hartley, was cited for operating a vehicle without insurance.

It has been determined that the cause of this accident was related to the pedestrians sudden movement into the roadway when they ran across the road.

Pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk are reminded that, according to Wisconsin State Statute 346.24(2) no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is difficult for the operator of the vehicle to yield.

No other citations were issued as a result of this accident.

Lt. Mark Nicholson
Operations Lieutenant
Tomah Police Department
805 Superior Ave.
Tomah, WI 54660
D - 608 374-7406
C - 608 343-1493 

Contact Information

Tomah Police Department
805 Superior Avenue
Tomah, WI  54660
Phone: 608-374-7400
Fax: 608-374-7413
www.tomahpolice.com
tomahpd@tomahpolice.com