Walworth County Sheriff's Office

1770 County Road NN, P.O. Box 1004, Elkhorn, WI 53121

262-741-4400 (non-emergency)

Kurt Picknell, Sheriff Kevin Williams, Undersheriff

PRESS RELEASE

Incident # - 17-001252 Type: Semi vs car crash

Date: January 11, 2017 Time: 10:10 AM

Location: Hwy 12 bypass at South Wisconsin Street - Whitewater Township

Released by: Captain Dave Gerber Contact Person: Captain David Gerber

(262) 741-4441

Narrative

On Wednesday January 11, 2017 at approximately 10:10 AM, Walworth County Sheriff’s Deputies, City of Whitewater Police, University of Wisconsin Whitewater Police, and Whitewater Fire and Rescue units were dispatched to a report of a semi versus car head on crash on the Hwy 12 bypass just east of the South Wisconsin Street overpass, in the Town of Whitewater, Walworth County, WI. Emergency response was initiated and upon arrival Police and Fire and Rescue units observed a green 1997 BMW on the eastbound shoulder with extensive front end damage. A 2012 Volvo semi-tractor with an attached tanker trailer was off in the southbound ditch. Debris was scattered across the roadway and Highway 12 was closed for approximately 6 hours in the Whitewater area for investigation and cleanup. The driver of the BMW was identified as 21 year Ryan Gellings of Whitewater. Gellings was transported by ambulance to a local trauma center in critical condition. The driver of the Volvo semi was identified as 43 year old Marc Tracy of Carpentersville, IL. Tracy was also transported to a local trauma center with moderate injuries. The drivers were the only occupants in each of their vehicles.

Preliminary investigation revealed the BMW was eastbound on Hwy 12 when it crossed the centerline. The semi was westbound on Hwy 12 and swerved to the right to avoid the collision. Both vehicles collided head on in the westbound lane of Hwy 12. The Crash remains under investigation by the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Team and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Agencies who responded to this scene include Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, City of Whitewater Police Department, University of Wisconsin Whitewater Police Department, Whitewater Fire and Rescue, Wisconsin DOT, Wisconsin State Patrol, Walworth County Department of Public Works.